Discharge Planning: Compliance with CMS Hospital & CAH CoPs 2025

• Type: Live Webinar 
• Speaker: Laura A. Dixon
• Date: July 8th, 2025
• Time: 01:00 PM EST
• Duration: 90 Minutes 

Course Overview:

CMS-Compliant Discharge Planning: Updated Standards & Best Practices

Hospitals that participate in Medicare or Medicaid programs are required to adhere to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) discharge planning regulations. These standards are not limited to Medicare or Medicaid patients—they apply to all individuals discharged from the hospital.

This session offers a detailed look at the current CMS discharge planning requirements, including the 2020 updates. Although the revised survey protocols and interpretive guidelines have yet to be released, the regulatory expectations remain in effect and are enforceable.

We’ll also examine the IMPACT Act, which introduced new responsibilities for hospitals to assist patients with transitions to post-acute care, such as skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation centers, long-term care hospitals, and home health agencies. Except in the case of Critical Access Hospitals, patients must receive detailed information about each of these options to make informed decisions.

Additionally, the course will emphasize the importance of giving patients prompt access to their health records—including discharge plans and instructions—as part of their rights under federal law. Topics such as evaluating readmission risks, coordinating with caregivers, and reducing avoidable hospital returns will also be covered in depth.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understand the CMS discharge planning updates that apply to both general and Critical Access Hospitals

• Recognize that discharge planning evaluations can be initiated by either the patient or the attending provider

• Identify requirements for transferring medical information to post-discharge care providers

• Review patient rights related to timely access to medical records and discharge summaries

Agenda Highlights:

• Overview of current CMS deficiency trends related to discharge planning

• Key elements of the discharge planning process under the IMPACT Act

• Criteria for identifying patients who require discharge planning

• Support roles for caregivers and legal representatives

• Responsibilities of RNs, social workers, and qualified staff in conducting evaluations

• Documentation and communication requirements for discharge plans

• Implementation, reassessment, and patient choice in selecting post-acute care providers

• Transfers and referrals: what hospitals must do

• Special rules and expectations for Critical Access Hospitals

• Discharge planning performance metrics

• Resources and tools for compliance

Who Should Attend:

This course is ideal for professionals involved in patient transitions, compliance, or clinical oversight, including:

• Discharge planners & care coordinators

• Registered nurses and staff involved in discharges

• Social workers

• Nurse educators and nurse managers

• Chief Nursing Officers and Chief Medical Officers

• Hospital administrators and COOs

• Risk management and compliance professionals

• Physicians involved in discharge care

• Patient safety officers

• Health information managers

• Quality and PI directors

• Committee members working to reduce hospital readmissions