A 60 bed-unit at Osawatomie (Kan.) State Hospital, after working for two years to address patient safety concerns, regained its Medicare contract and funding, according to KCUR.
CMS revoked the state psychiatric hospital's certification December 2015 after a staff member reported a sexual assault and a subsequent investigation exposed security concerns and staffing shortages. Another recertification inspection May 2017 revealed additional problems at the hospital, including issues with infection control, proper sanitation and fire safety.
The terminated Medicare contract cost the state hospital up to $1 million a month in federal funds. Now, the hospital can once again bill Medicare.
To help regain certification the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services —the entity that oversees Osawatomie State Hospital — implemented a plan of correction which included increasing staffing levels improve employee and patient safety.
"This is a big leap for us from where we started, and it's really good news for all the hard work folks at Osawatomie did," said KDADS Secretary Tim Keck, according to KCUR.