Medicare Conditions of Participation

MEDICARE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

Hospital | Early Referral | JCAHO Standards | Medicare | HIPAA

In an effort to save and improve lives through donation, federal regulations require a collaborative working relationship between hospitals and Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO), tissue and eye banks.

The Routine Death Notification Legislation (42 CFR Part 482), part of the Code of Federal Regulation that govern acute care hospitals, is a condition for participation in the Medicare program. The highlights of the regulation are as follows:

Hospital must have written agreement with New Mexico Donor Services (NMDS) for organ and tissue recovery, and New Mexico Lions Eye Bank (NMLEB) for eye/cornea recovery.
Hospital must notify NMDS of every death or imminent death, in a timely manner, before medical suitability is determined and family is given option of donation.
Medical suitability isi to be determined by NMDS.
The hospital is to ensure - in collaboration with NMDS - that every family with potential to donate lifesaving organs and/or tissue is given the opportunity to donate.
Hospital must exercise discretion and sensitivity with respect to the families considering donation and all those who choose to donate life.
Only NMDS staff or "specially trained designated requestor" is to discuss donation with families. This ensures that families receive all the facts and thoroughly understand the process of donation when making critical decisions.
Hospital is to work cooperatively with NMDS and eye bank to educate staff on donation issues, review death records to improve identification of potential donors, and maintain medical support while critical tests are conducted to coordinate proper placement of donated organs with recipients.