Uncle Sam, cutting red tape

The White House Office of Management and Budget is reportedly reviewing a new rule that aims to ease administrative burdens in nursing homes.

OMB ‘s review could reform requirements that long-term care facilities must meet to participate in federal payment programs, Inside Health Policy reported Thursday. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has identified specific requirements that it’s deemed to be unnecessary, obsolete or excessively burdensome for the field.

Back in September, CMS announced a package of moves aiming to cut red tape for the healthcare industry, but held off on changes specific to the nursing home field. Administrator Seema Verma said at the time that a nursing home rule would come later, according to the report.

In its regulatory agenda, the agency noted that it has reviewed the proposed actions and believes they should not pose any potential harm to nursing home residents.

“Ultimately, we believe that the proposed revisions will be burden reducing and do not impede on the health and safety of residents,” CMS noted.