CMS is reminding state survey agencies and accrediting organizations to make sure hospitals are meeting regulatory requirements for transfers to home health agencies and other post-acute care providers.
 
“CMS has identified areas of concern related to missing or inaccurate patient information when a patient is discharged from a hospital,” notes a memo to state survey agency directors June 6, 2023.
 
Among other things, areas of concern include missing or inaccurate information related to medications, such as an incomplete comprehensive list of all medications that have been prescribed to a patient during, and prior to, their hospital stay.
“Common omissions also include patient diagnoses or problem lists, clinical indications, lab results and/or clear order for the post-discharge medication regimen,” CMS notes.
 
Medication information omissions have been most commonly reported for psychotropic medications and “hard” prescriptions for narcotics (meaning provided on paper, not electronic, as required by law).
 
Recommendations for hospitals include:
  • There are several resources available that hospitals can use to improve their discharge policies and procedures, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) Toolkit.
  • Collaborate with PAC providers, such as agreeing on standardized processes, information, or forms that are used during discharges, such as the InterACT Hospital to Post Acute Care Transfer Form.
  • Also, conduct case reviews of previous discharges to improve the outcomes of future discharges.
  • Enable access to patient information in electronic health records (EHRs) across hospitals and PAC providers, so providers can access the necessary information to improve transitions.