CMS Hospital CoP and TJC Telemedicine Standards, Telemedicine Credentialing and Privileging

This webinar will give insights on regulations and CMS interpretive guidelines which are now part of the hospital CoPs on telemedicine credentialing. It will discuss CMS mechanism for all hospitals to use proxy credentialing with Medicare-certified hospitals or other telemedicine entities. It will further discuss why written agreement is required, and insights on the requirements in the written agreement. It will also provide insights on standards, Joint Commission has on telemedicine in the leadership chapter.

Why Should You Attend:

With all of the recent activity in the area of telemedicine are you sure your hospital is compliant with the regulatory standards? Are you familiar with the federal regulation on telemedicine along with the CMS hospital CoP interpretive guidelines? CMS has been issuing quarterly reports of the number of hospital deficiencies and this program will discuss the most problematic standards in the telemedicine interpretive guidelines. The most problematic standard is the failure of the hospital to have the required section in the contract for telemedicine services.

The regulations cover the credentialing and privileging process for physicians and practitioners providing telemedicine services. This revised process is less burdensome which means it is now a less financial burden for hospitals. CMS allows hospitals to credentialing by proxy. Hospitals are required to have a written agreement that meets certain criteria. Come learn all about the regulations and interpretive guidelines and the responsibilities of the board, medical staff and hospitals to ensure compliance with the regulations or ensure you are in compliance.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss that there is both a regulations and CMS interpretive guidelines which are now part of the hospital CoPs on telemedicine credentialing
• Recall that CMS includes a mechanism for all hospitals to use proxy credentialing with a Medicare-certified hospitals or other telemedicine entities
• Describe that the hospital has to have a written agreement that specifies the responsibilities of the distant-site hospital to meet the required credentialing requirements
• Recall that Joint Commission has standards on telemedicine in the leadership chapter

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Introduction
• Insights on 16 page federal law
• Overview of 27 page interpretive guidelines by CMS for CoPs
• What are the CMS deficiencies in telemedicine?
• Learn about the definitions of distant site telemedicine entity (DTSE)
• Insights on CoP board changes
• Why written agreement is required, and insights on the requirements in the written agreement
• Discussion on privileges based on medical staff recommendations
• Credentialing by proxy - what you need to know
• Agreements with Medicare certified hospitals and DTSE
• How to ensure compliance with the CoPs
• Find out the effect on Joint Commission hospitals
• Basic hospital functions
• Insights on reliance on the C&P decisions of the distant site
• Peer review issues - what you need to know about
• Adverse events and notification
• Periodic appraisals
• Complaints received about the distant site physician
• Discussion on third party verification organizations
• Where CoP tag numbers are changed

Who Will Benefit:

• Chief Medical Officer
• Medical Staff leader
• Credentialing and Privileging Professionals
• Tele-radiology Professionals
• Chief Nursing Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Director of Radiology
• Hospital legal counsel
• Medical Staff Office personnel
• Risk manager
• Compliance officer
• Patient safety officer
• Legal counsel
• Nurse educator
• Joint Commission director
• Accreditation Director
• Director of Regulatory Affairs
• Anyone involved in telemedicine services