A proposal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to require accrediting organizations (AOs) to post the details of their survey reports online was withdrawn last week, according to an article on the HCPro website.

The change was not because of the negative comments the proposal sparked, but because it might be prohibited under federal law.

The proposal would have required accrediting organizations post final survey reports online within 90 days of the information being made available to the relevant healthcare organization. 

“Section 1865(b) of the Act prohibits CMS from disclosing survey reports or compelling the AOs to disclose their reports themselves,” the final rule states. “The suggestion by CMS to have the AOs post their survey reports may appear as if CMS was attempting to circumvent the provision of section 1865(b) of the Act. Therefore, this provision is effectively being withdrawn.”

Read the article.