In the August and September issues, CMM told you about a recent set of revisions to the discharge planning section of the CMS State Operations Manual. While most of the changes amounted to housekeeping, CMS did take the unusual step of including some non-binding best practice recommendations related to discharge practices. Surveyors won't penalize your organization if you don't follow these recommendations, but experts recommend following the agency's advice whenever possible.
Observation or inpatient? It sounds like a simple question, but it continues to be a sticky area for most facilities. If your organization is having trouble correctly assigning every patient, you're not alone.
