CMS Accepts Parkland Hospital's Plan for Corrective Action

Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, which was cited for serious deficiencies earlier this month by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Texas Department of Health Services, received some good news Tuesday. Officials in the Dallas regional CMS office have approved the safety net hospital's corrective action plan.

David Wright, acting deputy regional administrator for CMS, told HealthLeaders Media that his office has authorized the Texas Department of Health Services to schedule a second review of Parkland to confirm that the CAP steps have been taken and are effective.

Parkland Memorial has until Sept 2^nd to correct certain "immediate jeopardy deficiencies" in infection control and emergency department care or CMS will terminate its Medicare contract. The hospital stands to lose up to $417 million in federal funds out of its annual budget.

This is the second time CMS has cited Parkland for a "serious and immediate threat" finding. The first was in October 2008 for a violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act or EMTALA.

Wright said immediate jeopardy findings are issued two or three times a year in the CMS's five-state Dallas region. "Our goal is always to get the hospital back into compliance."

Parkland still awaits word on whether the Texas Department of Health Services has approved a separate CAP to resolve licensure issues related to the CMS deficiencies. State officials did not respond to questions about the status of that review.