AHA, others sue HHS over two midnight rule
Yesterday, the American Hospital Association and several other health care groups and individual hospitals filed two suits against the Department of Health and Human Services over the long-term legality of the two midnight rule. Among other items, the suits allege that the rule is arbitrary, places undue burdens on hospitals based on unlawful standards, requires documentation that is not authorized by law and refuses proper Medicare reimbursements for some inpatient stays. The suit, filed in the DC Federal District Court, is yet to be scheduled for motions or trial. NRHA has long sought Congressional intervention for this problematic standard, in addition to regulatory relief for Critical Access Hospitals from the 96-hour condition of payment issue and will continue to work with Capitol Hill to ensure that all rural hospitals are able to provide appropriate, local care.