(May 15, 2026) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released QSO-26-07-Hospitals/CAHs, which provides interpretive guidance for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals on the Emergency Room Readiness Obstetrical Services conditions of participation, as set forth in the fiscal year 2025 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule. The new ER Conditions of Participation set standards to improve facility readiness to care for patients receiving emergency services, including pregnant, birthing and post-partum patients. The new CoPs took effect on July 1, 2025, so the interpretive guidance is currently in effect.
Also included in QSO-26-07-Hospitals/CAHs is a link to the Quality, Safety and Education Portal, which features 10-15-minute videos to support survey readiness. Go to the Quality, Safety and Education Portal link and click on Quality in Focus. The videos focus on commonly cited deficient practices and provide examples to improve performance.
Share these resources with your Risk/Quality and Survey Readiness team.
--Larry Van Der Wege