Miami Valley will maintain Medicare funding

Miami Valley Hospital is no longer in danger of losing its Medicare funding after a rigorous review of the hospital’s operations by regulators.

Hospital officials announced Friday that they had been informed by state and federal regulators that the “immediate jeopardy status” of its contract with Medicare, issued Sept. 17 by U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), was lifted on Wednesday.

CMS issued a public notice last month stating the hospital could lose its contract with Medicare on Saturday because of “deficient practices” and that it “failed to evaluate nursing care related to the circumstances surrounding the death” of a patient.

The threat was lifted after surveyors from the Ohio Department of Health, under contract with CMS, conducted a comprehensive review of Miami Valley Hospital’s campuses on Monday.

The surveyors spent time observing in clinical areas, monitoring processes, checking safety measures, and speaking to patients about their care.

“We expected a full and thorough inspection,” said Mark Shaker, Miami Valley’s president and CEO. “We always welcome CMS’s vigilance as it is a way for all hospitals to continuously improve and we look forward to working with them through the survey and any on-going follow-up processes.”

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