The CMS recently found University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was in violation of several safety requirements for Medicare participation.
In a series of CMS and Texas Department of State Health Services surveys, the federal agency found MD Anderson wasn't complying with the CMS' Medicare conditions of participation regarding its governing body; quality assessment and performance improvement program; patient rights; and nursing and laboratory services.
The CMS didn't threaten to remove MD Anderson's Medicare status, but it's now under the jurisdiction of the Texas health department, which will revisit the hospital to ensure it complies with the conditions. MD Anderson is accredited by the Joint Commission.
The report detailing specific deficiencies is not yet public because the document is still under review, a CMS spokeswoman said in an email.
The inquiry into MD Anderson began after the hospital in December 2018 reported to the Food and Drug Administration an adverse event related to a blood transfusion. MD Anderson said the FDA conducted an investigation and no citations were issued. In line with policy, the FDA then reported the case to the CMS, which began its own, separate inquiry. The CMS and state health department conducted surveys at MD Anderson from March 29 to April 5 and from May 13 to May 17.
The CMS found MD Anderson's clinical lab did not comply with several required conditions, but the details are not yet public. MD Anderson declined to provide further information.
The agency has required the lab to submit a plan detailing how it will correct the oversights by June 18. MD Anderson won't have to submit a corrective action plan for other deficiencies. But the CMS said in a June 3 letter to CEO Dr. Peter Pisters that "it's to your advantage to initiate corrective action."
MD Anderson plans to submit the plans to the agency next week, hospital spokeswoman Brette Peyton said in an email.
"We welcome the review and the feedback received from CMS, and we are taking this feedback very seriously," MD Anderson said in a statement on its website. Our resulting focus is on resolution, learning and improvement, and this process affords us the opportunity to further strengthen and supplement our efforts."
