Rule Expands Patient Information Rights

Medicare providers and suppliers would be required to alert beneficiaries of their right to file a written complaint about the quality of care provided to their state’s quality improvement organization, under a proposed rule published on Feb. 2.


Medicare providers and suppliers would be required to alert beneficiaries of their right to file a written complaint about the quality of care provided to their state's quality improvement organization, under a proposed rule published on Feb. 2.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published the rule in the Federal Register and will accept comment through April 4. Providers and suppliers would be required under the rule to provide written notice that includes QIO contact information.

The proposed rule expands an existing requirement that Medicare beneficiaries given in-patient care be informed of their right to complain to a QIO. "We believe that this requirement should also be provided to Medicaid out-patient beneficiaries and to those beneficiaries receiving care in other health care settings," according to the rule, available here.

--Joseph Goedert