Restrictions to the ACGME self-regulation will be a problem only it they already exist. The problem is really that Congress is reluctant to pass laws to federally mandate these restrictions. Opponents to these restrictions teem the political milieu at Washington DC. Federal regulation of resident work hours should nonetheless remain in the major agenda for Congress, especially if and when ACGME regulatory efforts turn futile and ineffective (Lee).
Into Medical Debt
Adverse consequences have followed the lack of definite government regulation of federal hospitals. A new report from The Commonwealth Fund said that some patients incur unimaginable medical bills and go into long-term debts as a result of unclear federal laws and regulations (Mahon & Pryor, 2003). Whatever rules are followed motivate health care provider to bill the uninsured more than the insured for the same service. Federal fraud and abuse laws and Medicare rules are deliberately mis-used to over-bill instead of discourage healthcare providers from offering reduced or free health care costs to patients. The report found that many hospitals do not have the procedures to negotiate discounts with uninsured patients not eligible for free care and without the resources to pay the full charges. In addition, tight operating margins high bond ratings for capital expenses, and the need for a basis for negotiating discounts with insurers often compel hospitals to charge high fees. These factors also incline hospitals to aggressively run after the uninsured for their unpaid bills. Accumulated medical bills are a sore consequence for patients and their families (Mahon & Pryor).
Conclusion
Government regulation over federal hospitals has been confined to costs in view of sharp hospital expenses (Sloan, 1982). This has been in the area of rate and revenue and facilities and services. Even then, regular strategies have...
The 2009 Joint Commission revised its accreditation standards for registered nurse anesthetists' certification by a state agency or a CMS regulation body. Nurses from 15 States opted out of the "deeming authority." The PSPA was another attempt at regulating resident work hours, but Congress was reluctant to pass the bills. And one more consequence is that uninsured patients are billed much more by insurers than they do insured patients. Hospitals do not have the procedures needed to negotiate with uninsured patients. The lack of clear government rules on the regulation of federal hospitals explains these. #
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brown, S. (2011). Federal hospitals. American Hospital Association. Retrieved on May
29, 2011 from http://www.aha.org/aha/member-center/constituency-sections/Federal-Systems/fed-index.html
Lee, C.J. (2006). Federal regulation of hospital resident work hours: enforcement with real teeth. Journal of Health Care Review Policy: University of Maryland. Retrieved on May 29, 2011 from http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.dgi?article=1001&content=student_pubs&sci_redi=1#search="federal+hospitals+regulations"
Mahon, M. And Pryor C. (2003). Government regulations contribute to medical debt of uninsured and underinsured. The Commonwealth Fund. Retrieved on May 29, 2011
from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/News/News-Releases/2002/Jun/Government-Regulations-Contribute-To-Medical-Debt-Of-Uninsured-And-Underinsured.aspx
Sloan, F.A. (1982). Government and the regulation of hospital care. Vol 72 # 2 AEA
Papers and Proceedings. Duke University Library: Duke University. Retrieved on May
29, 2011 from http://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspce/bitstream/handle/10161/1731/Sloan-government_and_regulation-of_hospital_care.pdf?sequence=1
