Cheryl Phillips, M.D.

The comment period on the 403-page long-term care regulation reform rule proposed in July has been reopened for an additional 30 days, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday.

The original comment period was slated to end today. Stakeholders now may submit comments on the proposal until October 14, 2015.

The proposed regulations have raised concerns among providers on everything from an “impossible” to follow transfer rule and mandatory antibiotic stewardship programs, to accusations of CMS being out of touch with those who work on the front lines of long-term care. Currently the proposal has received a deluge of comments — close to 4,700 at press time — many of which have a negative slant, reflecting providers’ concerns.

Industry leaders, such as LeadingAge’s Cheryl Phillips, M.D., have pushed for providers to list their concerns. “Volume really matters,” Phillips wrote in a letter last month.