The House passed a bill that would delay the enforcement of physician supervision requirements that many providers argue is burdensome and costly. The Senate already passed a similar measure.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), will delay (PDF) a CMS policy that says all hospitals, including critical-access hospitals and rural hospitals, must have a doctor or non-physician practitioner immediately available when outpatient therapeutic services are provided. Those services include some emergency and observation services, including routine acts such as drawing blood. Although clinicians don't have to be in the room when the services are provided, they have to be physically close enough and ready to intervene should any problems arise.