The empire strikes back . . .

. . . with lightning speed, no less.

The story of the Texas single-specialty hospital that called 911 when a patient crashed (no MD on-site, patient later died) in January, followed by the Congressional inquiry to CMS from Senators Baucus and Grassley in February, and the CMS response that followed in March, has now culminated in the CMS issuance of guidance in late April to "affirm and explain" hospitals’ obligations under Medicare regulations defining the Conditions of Participation in Medicare (CoP).

The guidance is worth a read.  Still no definition of "emergency" outside of EMTALA, but a firm reiteration of CoPs as found in the regs.   

— David Harlow