The Joint Commission Revises Nursing Care Center Requirements, Laboratory Requirements, and Outpatient Record Review Requirements for CAHs – On July 9, 2015, the Joint Commission announced revised requirements, effective January 1, 2016, for nursing care centers (available here) and laboratories (available here), in addition to revised requirements for outpatient record review for critical access hospitals (CAHs) (available here), which are effective as of July 1, 2015.

CMS Fines MCOs for Benefit Information Issues – In mid-July, CMS announced fines for six Managed Care Organizations for failing to provide enrollees with required information about 2015 benefits.  Information about these civil money penalties is available here.

Medicare Extends Enrollment Moratoria for Some Providers – On July 24, 2015, CMS released a notice extending temporary enrollment moratoria for new ambulance providers and home health agencies in various metropolitan areas in six states—Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  The notice is set for publication in the July 28 Federal Register.