HHS Progress Report Outlines Efforts to Reduce Regulatory Burdens

Written by Lindsey Dunn | February 02, 2012

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HHS has released a progress report on its efforts to reduce regulatory burdens, which highlights the eight proposed rules and nine final rules the agency has released as a result of its efforts.

The agency's proposed changes to the Medicare Conditions of Participation are expected to save the healthcare industry $5 billion over five years, according to the report.

Key changes within this and other proposed rules include:

Permit laboratory services to operate on-site at critical access hospitals, saving roughly $15.8 million per year.
Allow hospitals to determine the total number of directors needed for the various outpatient services that a hospital offers, saving $300 million per year.
Allow hospitals to set their own policies regarding the duties and privileges of advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and other licensed non-physician practitioners in accordance with their state laws and scope-of-practice acts.
Allow hospitals to use standing medical orders approved by the hospital's clinical leadership to advance the practice of evidence-based medicine and ensure more consistent care for all patients.

HHS says it also plans to release four additional proposed rule changes in the first quarter of 2012.

President Obama issued an executive order to all regularly agencies in January 2011 to streamline existing rules.

To read the complete progress report, click here.