Attn: All Wisconsin Acute Care Hospitals
Please visit the following link to view DQA Memo 21-01 / CMS 1135 Waiver Provisions – Acute Hospital Care at Home Program: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dqa/memos/21-01.pdf
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance to Wisconsin hospitals regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) waivers issued of Medicare regulations under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act for the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. CMS is issuing these waivers on a case-by-case basis to last the duration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
On November 25, 2020, CMS announced the development of the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program to increase the capacity of the U.S. health care system to provide care to patients outside a traditional hospital setting amid the rising number of COVID-19 hospitalizations across the country. CMS is now accepting waiver requests to waive §482.23(b) and (b)(1) of the Hospital Conditions of Participation, which require nursing services to be provided on the premises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the immediate availability of a registered nurse for care of any patient, to implement the Acute Hospital Care At Home program.
Wis. Stat. § 50 and Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 124 regulate Wisconsin hospitals. In 2016, Wisconsin adopted the Medicare Conditions of Participation as the minimum standards that apply to hospitals. Only hospitals that have received approval from CMS for the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program are eligible for approval from the Department of Health Services pursuant to the authority granted to the Department in Wis.Stat. § 252.02 (2) to provide medical aid in an emergency to those with communicable diseases. If you wish to participate in the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program, please complete the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program – Emergency Request for Approval form and submit it with supporting documentation according to the instructions in the memo.
Questions
For general questions regarding the information in the memo, please contact Ann Hansen, Bureau of Health Services Director.
For question related to Physical Environment or Life Safety Code, please contact David Soens, Life Safety Code Consultant.
Please see the DQA Memo webpage at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dqa/memos/index.htm for more information.
