12/20/2017

CMS Confirms Ombudsman Notification for a Hospital Transfer

At the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Region V meeting in Chicago on December 12, CMS confirmed that nursing homes are required to notify the Ombudsman’s office of emergency transfers. CMS gave an example of a resident or resident representative wanting to go the ER even when the facility felt they could manage the resident without transfer. This is still considered a facility-initiated transfer and therefore meets the requirement to notify the Ombudsman’s office. CMS referred back to the memo S&C 17-27-NH. The member states the following:

Emergency Transfers

When a resident is temporarily transferred on an emergency basis to an acute care facility, notice of the transfer may be provided to the resident and resident representative as soon as practicable, according to 42 CFR 483.15(c)(4)(ii)(D). Copies of notices for emergency transfers must also still be sent to the ombudsman, but they may be sent when practicable, such as in a list of residents on a monthly basis.

This memo can be found by clicking here.

CMS encouraged the attendees of the Region V meeting to notify CMS of ongoing issues by providers, Ombudsman offices, and associations as it relates to resident/facility-initiated transfers and discharges. Please contact Nisha Hammel at nhammel@leadingageohio.org with questions or concerns. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to advocate concerns related to this requirement.