Senators Proposing Meaningful Use Changes – A group of Republican Senators released proposed legislation that would provide flexibility to hospitals and physicians under the Meaningful Use program.  The proposed legislation would shorten the program’s reporting period from 1 year to 90 days.  It would also remove the program’s “all or nothing” requirement and allow hospitals and physicians to avoid penalties if they meet the majority of the program’s requirements but fail to meet all of its requirements.  CMS previously proposed making such a change for physicians, but has not proposed doing so for hospitals.

CMS Requiring Health Care Facilities to Install Automatic Sprinkler Systems – CMS issued a final rule on May 4, 2016 adopting several new fire safety regulations for health care facilities.  The final rules adopts standards contained in the 2012 editions of the Life Safety Code (LSC) and Health Care Facilities Code of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  The new regulations will require automatic sprinkler systems in hospitals and certain types of other health care facilities that are greater than 75 feet tall.  The regulation will take effect July 5, 2016.  Facilities must comply within 12 years.