title: Regulating long-term care hospitals in search of a roadmap to clarity.
abstract: The Medicare program has historically regulated long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) by imposing increasingly rigorous limits on certification, admissions, and payments. From the standpoint of fairness, access, operational integrity, and patient choice, the existing regulatory regime is difficult to justify. The use of data-based clinical criteria, admissions screens, and objective certification standards would result in a more equitable system for patients, LTCHs, and Medicare.
authors: Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC, Washington, DC, USA. joel.hamme@ppsv.com
authors: Joel M
authors: JM
authors: Hamme
authors: Barbara Straub
authors: BS
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D005161:Facility Regulation and Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D014481:United States