Legislation introduced March 5 would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with stakeholders, including hospitals, to develop criteria for inpatient stays of fewer than two midnights. The Two-Midnight Rule Coordination and Improvement Act of 2014, introduced by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), also would codify the current enforcement delay of Medicare’s two-midnight policy, which is in effect until Sept. 30, 2014, and extend it by one year, to Sept. 30, 2015, or when new criteria are developed, whichever is earlier.
Association President and CEO Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, thanked the senators and said, “It’s vitally important that we get this policy right so that we don’t inadvertently destabilize hospitals that care for the vulnerable and serve as cornerstones in their communities.” America’s Essential Hospitals supported a similar House bill to delay enforcement of the two-midnight policy earlier this year.
Contact Shawn Gremminger, director, legislative affairs, at sgremminger@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0112 with questions.