An Update on Discharge Planning Rules and Regulations for 2019

Discharge planning has become more than just the movement of the patient out of the hospital. It is a “process” that starts at the point of admission and follows the patient beyond discharge. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have recently added more “teeth” to the process as it is outlined in the Conditions of Participation for Discharge Planning. Discharge planning is no longer a destination but a process that starts before the patient is admitted to the hospital and continues after they are discharged.