CFR > Title 42 - Public Health > CHAPTER IV—CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES > SUBCHAPTER B—MEDICARE PROGRAM (parts 405 to 426) > PART 416—AMBULATORY SURGICAL SERVICES > SUBPART C—Specific Conditions for Coverage (§416.40 to §416.52) > 416.52—Conditions for coverage—Patient admission, assessment and discharge.

416.52—Conditions for coverage—Patient admission, assessment and discharge.

The ASC must ensure each patient has the appropriate pre-surgical and post-surgical assessments completed and that all elements of the discharge requirements are completed.
(a) Standard: Admission and pre-surgical assessment. (1) Not more than 30 days before the date of the scheduled surgery, each patient must have a comprehensive medical history and physical assessment completed by a physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Act) or other qualified practitioner in accordance with applicable State health and safety laws, standards of practice, and ASC policy.
(2) Upon admission, each patient must have a pre-surgical assessment completed by a physician or other qualified practitioner in accordance with applicable State health and safety laws, standards of practice, and ASC policy that includes, at a minimum, an updated medical record entry documenting an examination for any changes in the patient's condition since completion of the most recently documented medical history and physical assessment, including documentation of any allergies to drugs and biologicals.
(3) The patient's medical history and physical assessment must be placed in the patient's medical record prior to the surgical procedure.
(b) Standard: Post-surgical assessment. (1) The patient's post-surgical condition must be assessed and documented in the medical record by a physician, other qualified practitioner, or a registered nurse with, at a minimum, post-operative care experience in accordance with applicable State health and safety laws, standards of practice, and ASC policy.
(2) Post-surgical needs must be addressed and included in the discharge notes.
(c) Standard: Discharge. The ASC must—
(1) Provide each patient with written discharge instructions and overnight supplies. When appropriate, make a followup appointment with the physician, and ensure that all patients are informed, either in advance of their surgical procedure or prior to leaving the ASC, of their prescriptions, post-operative instructions and physician contact information for followup care.
(2) Ensure each patient has a discharge order, signed by the physician who performed the surgery or procedure in accordance with applicable State health and safety laws, standards of practice, and ASC policy.
(3) Ensure all patients are discharged in the company of a responsible adult, except those patients exempted by the attending physician.
[73 FR 68813, Nov. 18, 2008]