Regulatory Services
Keeping track of the regulations for health care management is a
daunting task. Identifying which regulations - proposed and
existing - apply to your organization can be difficult. Even when
you know the proper rules, staying in compliance can be a
challenge.
If your organization finds itself overwhelmed by the process or
just needs direction on best practices, QCMG Regulatory Services is
here to help. Our consultants have decades of experience in the
field of health care compliance, including policy development on
both the federal and state level.
Our director of Regulatory Services has extensive knowledge in
developing and enforcing health care regulations with the Ohio
Department of Health (ODH), giving her a unique understanding of
the processes and organizational structure within health
departments. The QMCG team includes several hundred diverse and
talented physicians, health care professionals, administrators, and
attorney consultants available to help you.
The services we provide include assisting with:
- Community Health Needs Assessment to satisfy requirements of
The 2010 Affordable Care Act or to identify community needs to best
deploy your resources.
- Health Care Planning to help your organization plan and prepare
for the future demands of health care services.
- Long-Term Care Services to help you stay up-to-date on
ever-changing regulations and participate in the regulatory
processes.
- Acute Care Services to monitor regulations, access compliance
and guide best practices.
Community
Health Needs Assessment
The 2010 Affordable Care Act includes a requirement that all
501(c)(3) hospitals conduct a community health needs assessment
(CHNA) in order to maintain their tax-exempt status. QMCG has a
team of attorneys and health planning specialists to assist your
hospital in complying with this requirement. A CHNA is also a good
way to identify the needs of your community in order to make
decisions on how best to utilize your resources to serve your
community. Visit our Community Health Needs Assessment page for
more information.
Read here for
Community Health Needs Assessment Frequently Asked
Questions.
Health Care
Planning
QMCG can help your organization plan and prepare for future
demands for health care services. We offer practical options to
identify your health service areas and address health needs in your
community.
Our health care planning expert can provide:
- Consultation on existing and proposed regulatory matters
governing health care service lines
- Community Health Needs Assessments
- Assistance with all aspects of the Certificate of Need (CON)
process, including identifying parties interested in long-term care
bed relocations; negotiating terms and executing bed purchase
agreements; identifying licensure requirements; preparation of the
Certificate of Need application; consultation from project design
through project development; and assistance through the licensure
and certification processes.
We also can assist with the timing of each component to ensure
your service can be initiated on time.
Long-Term Care
Services
With changes in reimbursement, franchise permit fees and more
stringent regulations, providing long-term care services is more
challenging now than ever. Our consultants can help you meet those
challenges.
We provide expert assistance to long-term care providers in the
following areas:
- Certificate of Need
We will prepare and submit your Certificate of Need (CON)
application and support you throughout the process. See our Certificate of Need
Resource Center for further information.
- Bed Sales and Acquisitions
Do you need additional long-term care beds? Are you struggling
with low occupancy rates? QMCG brings providers together to
relocate beds to areas where they can be better utilized and
enhance operations. See our Certificate of Need
Resource Center for bed purchase price information.
QMCG experts will assist you throughout the process:
- Identifying interested parties
- Negotiating terms for bed transaction agreements
- Ensuring that your interests are met throughout the
process
- County Home Bed Conversions
QMCG consultants provide assistance on how to certify, transfer
ownership, relocate and license county home beds. Many counties
have found the continued operation of county home beds to be
financially challenging. We can assist with the licensure of the
county home beds that will enable the sale of the beds and ensure
the continued availability of long-term care services to the
community. Note: County home beds must have been certified and
operational on or after July 1, 1993, to be eligible for
licensure.
- Nursing Home Licensure
We will bring our extensive experience in licensure and variance
processes to help your organization comply with state rules and
address licensure issues.
We provide:
-
- A plan review to address licensure requirements
- Consultation on staffing requirements
- Preparation of variance requests
- Preparation of requests for a change in licensed capacity
- Interaction with the Ohio Department of Health throughout the
licensure process
- Nursing Home Certification
Our extensive knowledge of the certification process will help you
maneuver through the system and ensure that your nursing home is in
compliance with the Conditions of Participation.
- Inspections and Enforcement
Have concerns over inspection findings? QMCG can work with the
Ohio Department of Health to help resolve your issues. Our services
include assistance through the survey process, preparation of Plans
of Correction and consultation for ongoing compliance.
- Franchise Permit Fee (Bed Tax)
We can assist with the de-licensure of long-term care beds
approved for relocation or long-term care beds that are no longer
needed in order to minimize the bed tax. In addition, we can review
your bed tax invoice for accuracy and assist with the appeal if the
invoice is incorrect.
Acute Care
Services
State regulations for acute care services can change without
providers having any knowledge of or input on the change. We can
monitor regulations, advise you on proposed changes and provide
public comment where appropriate. We can help ensure that your
interests are addressed and that your service remains
compliant.
- Health Care Services/Quality Rules
Our Director of Regulatory Services has worked with experts to
develop rules for the Health Care Services (HCS) program. She
developed and implemented the HCS program for the Ohio Department
of Health (ODH) and was the program's administrator from its
inception in 1997 through 2009.
The HCS program oversees organ transplantation, bone marrow
transplantation, cardiac catheterization, open heart surgery and
pediatric intensive care services. Regulations include standards
for notification, patient care, building and site, staffing,
medical records, quality assessment and improvement, complaints,
patient selection and safety standards.
Our experience can help ensure that your service is in compliance.
In addition, we can prepare your request for a waiver or variance
and work with ODH to address specific concerns.
- Maternity Licensure
Our extensive experience with maternity licensure rules means we
can address your questions regarding state compliance and help you
with inspections and enforcement issues with our services:
- Consultation on licensure standards
- Preparation of waiver and variance requests to ODH
- Inspections and Enforcement
Not sure that your health care service is compliant? We can review
your service and identify areas that should be addressed.
- Hospital Registration
Our director of regulatory services has 28 years of involvement
with hospital registration. Additionally, our director has provided
consultation to the Ohio Department of Health regarding
registration policy and rules and can help ensure that your
registration is accurate. If you are having registration issues, we
can work with the ODH to resolve problems and correct
mistakes.
Resources
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