HHS Releases Final Plan on Regulatory Relief - August 30, 2011

On Aug. 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its Plan for Retrospective Review of Existing Rules, designed to identify regulations that are “obsolete, burdensome, or counterproductive or that can be modified to be more effective, efficient, flexible, and streamlined.” The plan is in response to President Obama’s Jan. 18, 2011, executive order directing each federal agency to conduct a comprehensive review of its regulations and find ways to reduce inefficiencies. In total, HHS has 77 proposed reform items, including a “duplicative infection control program requirement” for ambulatory surgery centers and administrative requirements under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. In addition, HHS indicated that it will publish a proposed rule next month revising conditions of participation for Medicare and Medicaid hospitals, including new Form 1099 and graduate medical education requirements.