1. Extension of nonenforcement instruction for the Medicare direct supervision requirement for therapeutic hospital outpatient services for critical access hospitals and rural hospitals; study of impact of failure to extend such instruction
Extension of therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, during the extension period, extend the therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction.
Definitions— In this section:
Therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction— The term “therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction” means the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals, as extended for calendar year 2013 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (released as of November 1, 2012).
Critical access hospital; small rural hospital— The terms “critical access hospital” and “small rural hospital” have the meanings given such terms for purposes of the therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction.
Extension period— The term “extension period” means calendar year 2014, and includes a subsequent calendar year unless the report under subsection (c)(2) has been submitted at least 90 days before the end of the previous calendar year.
Study and report on impact of failure To extend therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction—
Study— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study on the impact (including the economic impact and the impact upon hospital staffing needs, if any) on critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals of not extending the therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction.
Report— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1), including recommendations regarding on whether the therapy supervision nonenforcement instruction should be extended or made permanent.