CMS: Manufacturer Recommendations Are Requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a new directive requiring hospitals to adhere strictly to manufacturer recommendations for inspecting and maintaining critical care and imaging equipment in order to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments. This statement has drawn considerable comment and concern, since it contradicts the more flexible stance taken by the Joint Commission, which has allowed hospitals to use their experience to determine how often medical devices should be inspected. This flexibility has been widely supported in the literature and is also supported by ECRI Institute.

The Joint Commission’s flexible approach is believed to have improved efficiency, allowed for more time to perform critical technology management activities, and saved hospitals money without negatively affecting safety, quality, or technology performance. Many hospitals believe that adhering strictly to manufacturer recommendations would be onerous and costly and...