The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting public comments regarding Guidance for Hospital Co-location with Other Hospitals or Healthcare Facilities by July 2. The draft revisions are intended to provide clarity and guidance regarding what constitutes a co-location between hospitals or other health care entities. The draft itself addresses how the co-located facilities will be surveyed and clarifies contractual staffing requirements for co-located health care facilities. 

CMS will review submitted comments before issuing a final version of the guidelines, which will include additions to Appendix A of the State Operations Manual. Once finalized, these interpretive guidelines will be implemented by CMS and become the guidance for surveyors.

The American Society for Health Care Engineering is requesting that members share their concerns and comments regarding the proposed guidance by submitting comments to CMS.