The PARTS Act — which Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced in June — would amend the Social Security Act to allow general supervision by a physician or non-physician practitioner for many outpatient therapy services. CMS currently requires physicians provide direct supervision for even low-risk services such as medication injections.
The bill would also create an advisory panel to identify exceptions for risky and complex outpatient procedures. Additionally, the legislation would protect hospitals from civil or criminal action for failing to meet the direct supervision requirements applied to services administered from 2001 onward.
Direct supervision generally requires a physician or provider to be physically present, interruptible and able to provide assistance or direction throughout the procedure. General supervision means the service is furnished in the hospital by licensed, skilled medical professionals under a supervising professional’s overall control.
Many small and rural hospitals with shortages of physicians and non-physician providers need more flexibility in order to provide a full range of services to their communities and may find current CMS requirements impossible to meet, according to the PARTS Act.
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