This subpart sets forth the conditions that facilities must meet to be certified as comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs) under section 1861(cc)(2) of the Social Security Act and be accepted for participation in Medicare in accordance with part 489 of this chapter.

As used in this subpart, unless the context indicates otherwise, “comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility”, “CORF”, or “facility” means a nonresidential facility that—

(a) Is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and restorative services to outpatients for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled, or sick persons, at a single fixed location, by or under the supervision of a physician except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section;

(b) Meets all the requirements of this subpart.

(c) Exception. May provide influenza, pneumococcal and Hepatitis B vaccines provided the applicable conditions of coverage under § 410.58 and § 410.63 of this chapter are met.

The facility and all personnel who provide services must be in compliance with applicable State and local laws and regulations.

(a) Standard: Licensure of facility. If State or local law provides for licensing, the facility must be currently licensed or approved as meeting the standards established for licensure.

(b) Standard: Licensure of personnel. Personnel that provide service must be licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with applicable State and local laws.

The facility must have a governing body that assumes full legal responsibility for establishing and implementing policies regarding the management and operation of the facility.

(a) Standard: Disclosure of ownership. The facility must comply with the provisions of part 420, subpart C of this chapter that require health care providers and fiscal agents to disclose certain information about ownership and control.

(b) Standard: Administrator. The governing body must appoint an administrator who—

(1) Is responsible for the overall management of the facility under the authority delegated by the governing body;

(2) Implements and enforces the facility's policies and procedures;

(3) Designates, in writing, an individual who, in the absence of the administrator, acts on behalf of the administrator; and

(4) Retains professional and administrative responsibility for all personnel providing facility services.

(c) Standard: Group of professional personnel. The facility must have a group of professional personnel associated with the facility that—

(1) Develops and periodically reviews policies to govern the services provided by the facility; and

(2) Consists of at least one physician and one professional representing each of the services provided by the facility.

(d) Standard: Institutional budget plan. The facility must have an institutional budget plan that meets the following conditions:

(1) It is prepared, under the direction of the governing body, by a committee consisting of representatives of the governing body and the administrative staff.

(2) It provides for—

(i) An annual operating budget prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles;

(ii) A 3-year capital expenditure plan if expenditures in excess of $100,000 are anticipated, for that period, for the acquisition of land; the improvement of land, buildings, and equipment; and the replacement, modernization, and expansion of buildings and equipment; and

(iii) Annual review and updating by the governing body.

(e) Standard: Patient care policies. The facility must have written patient care policies that govern the services it furnishes. The patient care policies must include the following:

(1) A description of the services the facility furnishes through employees and those furnished under arrangements.

(2) Rules for and personnel responsibilities in handling medical emergencies.

(3) Rules for the storage, handling, and administration of drugs and biologicals.

(4) Criteria for patient admission, continuing care, and discharge.

(5) Procedures for preparing and maintaining clinical records on all patients.

(6) A procedure for explaining to the patient and the patient's family the extent and purpose of the services to be provided.

(7) A procedure to assist the referring physician in locating another level of care for—patients whose treatment has terminated and who are discharged.

(8) A requirement that patients accepted by the facility must be under the care of a physician.

(9) A requirement that there be a plan of treatment established by a physician for each patient.

(10) A procedure to ensure that the group of professional personnel reviews and takes appropriate action on recommendations from the utilization review committee regarding patient care policies.

(f) Standard: Delegation of authority. The responsibility for overall administration, management, and operation must be retained by the facility itself and not delegated to others.

(1) The facility may enter into a contract for purposes of assistance in financial management and may delegate to others the following and similar services:

(i) Bookkeeping.

(ii) Assistance in the development of procedures for billing and accounting systems.

(iii) Assistance in the development of an operating budget.

(iv) Purchase of supplies in bulk form.

(v) The preparation of financial statements.

(2) When the services listed in paragraph (f)(1) of this section are delegated, a contract must be in effect and:

(i) May not be for a term of more than 5 years;

(ii) Must be subject to termination within 60 days of written notice by either party;

(iii) Must contain a clause requiring renegotiation of any provision that CMS finds to be in contravention to any new, revised or amended Federal regulation or law;

(iv) Must state that only the facility may bill the Medicare program; and

(v) May not include clauses that state or imply that the contractor has power and authority to act on behalf of the facility, or clauses that give the contractor rights, duties, discretions, or responsibilities that enable it to dictate the administration, management, or operations of the facility.

The facility must provide a coordinated rehabilitation program that includes, at a minimum, physicians' services, physical therapy services, and social or psychological services. These services must be furnished by personnel that meet the qualifications set forth in §§ 485.70 and 484.115 of this chapter and must be consistent with the plan of treatment and the results of comprehensive patient assessments.

(a) Standard: Physician services. (1) A facility physician must be present in the facility for a sufficient time to—

(i) Provide, in accordance with accepted principles of medical practice, medical direction, medical care services, consultation, and medical supervision of nonphysician staff;

(ii) Establish the plan of treatment in cases where a plan has not been established by the referring physician;

(iii) Assist in establishing and implementing the facility's patient care policies; and

(iv) Participate in plan of treatment reviews, patient case review conferences, comprehensive patient assessment and reassessments, and utilization review.

(2) The facility must provide for emergency physician services during the facility operating hours.

(b) Standard: Plan of treatment. For each patient, a physician must establish a plan of treatment before the facility initiates treatment. The plan of treatment must meet the following requirements:

(1) It must delineate anticipated goals and specify the type, amount, frequency and duration of services to be provided.

(2) It must be promptly evaluated after changes in the patient's condition and revised when necessary.

(3) It must, if appropriate, be developed in consultation with the facility physician and the appropriate facility professional personnel.

(4) It must be reviewed at least every 60 days by a facility physician who, when appropriate, consults with the professional personnel providing services. The results of this review must be communicated to the patient's referring physician for concurrence before treatment is continued or discontinued.

(5) It must be revised if the comprehensive reassessment of the patient's status or the results of the patient case review conference indicate the need for revision.

(c) Standard: Coordination of services. The facility must designate, in writing, a qualified professional to ensure that professional personnel coordinate their related activities and exchange information about each patient under their care. Mechanisms to assist in the coordination of services must include—

(1) Providing to all personnel associated with the facility, a schedule indicating the frequency and type of services provided at the facility;

(2) A procedure for communicating to all patient care personnel pertinent information concerning significant changes in the patient's status;

(3) Periodic clinical record entries, noting at least the patient's status in relationship to goal attainment; and

(4) Scheduling patient case review conferences for purposes of determining appropriateness of treatment, when indicated by the results of the initial comprehensive patient assessment, reassessment(s), the recommendation of the facility physician (or other physician who established the plan of treatment), or upon the recommendation of one of the professionals providing services.

(d) Standard: Provision of services. (1) All patients must be referred to the facility by a physician who provides the following information to the facility before treatment is initiated:

(i) The patient's significant medical history.

(ii) Current medical findings.

(iii) Diagnosis(es) and contraindications to any treatment modality.

(iv) Rehabilitation goals, if determined.

(2) Services may be provided by facility employees or by others under arrangements made by the facility.

(3) The facility must have on its premises the necessary equipment to implement the plan of treatment and sufficient space to allow adequate care.

(4) The services must be furnished by personnel that meet the qualifications of § 485.70 and the number of qualified personnel must be adequate for the volume and diversity of services offered. Personnel that do not meet the qualifications specified in § 485.70(a) through (m) may be used by the facility in assisting qualified staff.

(5) A qualified professional must initiate and coordinate the appropriate portions of the plan of treatment, monitor the patient's progress, and recommend changes, in the plan, if necessary.

(6) A qualified professional representing each service made available at the facility must be either on the premises of the facility or must be available through direct telecommunication for consultation and assistance during the facility's operating hours. At least one qualified professional must be on the premises during the facility's operating hours.

(7) All services must be provided consistent with accepted professional standards and practice.

(e) Standard: Scope and site of services—(1) Basic requirements. The facility must provide all the CORF services required in the plan of treatment and, except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, must provide the services on its premises.

(2) Exceptions. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services may be furnished away from the premises of the CORF including the individual's home when payment is not otherwise made under Title XVIII of the Act. In addition, a single home environment evaluation is covered if there is a need to evaluate the potential impact of the home environment on the rehabilitation goals. The single home environment evaluation requires the presence of the patient and the physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist, as appropriate.

(f) Standard: Patient assessment. Each qualified professional involved in the patient's care, as specified in the plan of treatment, must—

(1) Carry out an initial patient assessment; and

(2) In order to identify whether or not the current plan of treatment is appropriate, perform a patient reassessment after significant changes in the patient's status.

(g) Standard: Laboratory services. (1) If the facility provides its own laboratory services, the services must meet the applicable requirements for laboratories specified in part 493 of this chapter.

(2) If the facility chooses to refer specimens for laboratory testing, the referral laboratory must be certified in the appropriate specialties and subspecialties of services in accordance with the requirements of part 493 of this chapter.

The facility must maintain clinical records on all patients in accordance with accepted professional standards and practice. The clinical records must be completely, promptly, and accurately documented, readily accessible, and systematically organized to facilitate retrieval and compilation of information.

(a) Standard: Content. Each clinical record must contain sufficient information to identify the patient clearly and to justify the diagnosis and treatment. Entries in the clinical record must be made as frequently as is necessary to insure effective treatment and must be signed by personnel providing services. All entries made by assistant level personnel must be countersigned by the corresponding professional. Documentation on each patient must be consolidated into one clinical record that must contain—

(1) The initial assessment and subsequent reassessments of the patient's needs;

(2) Current plan of treatment;

(3) Identification data and consent or authorization forms;

(4) Pertinent medical history, past and present;

(5) A report of pertinent physical examinations if any;

(6) Progress notes or other documentation that reflect patient reaction to treatment, tests, or injury, or the need to change the established plan of treatment; and

(7) Upon discharge, a discharge summary including patient status relative to goal achievement, prognosis, and future treatment considerations.

(b) Standard: Protection of clinical record information. The facility must safeguard clinical record information against loss, destruction, or unauthorized use. The facility must have procedures that govern the use and removal of records and the conditions for release of information. The facility must obtain the patient's written consent before releasing information not required to be released by law.

(c) Standard: Retention and preservation. The facility must retain clinical record information for 5 years after patient discharge and must make provision for the maintenance of such records in the event that it is no longer able to treat patients.

The facility must provide a physical environment that protects the health and safety or patients, personnel, and the public.

(a) Standard: Safety and comfort of patients. The physical premises of the facility and those areas of its surrounding physical structure that are used by the patients (including at least all stairwells, corridors and passageways) must meet the following requirements:

(1) Applicable Federal, State, and local building, fire, and safety codes must be met.

(2) Fire extinguishers must be easily accessible and fire regulations must be prominently posted.

(3) A fire alarm system with local (in-house) capability must be functional, and where power is generated by electricity, an alternate power source with automatic triggering must be present.

(4) Lights, supported by an emergency power source, must be placed at exits.

(5) A sufficient number of staff to evacuate patients during a disaster must be on the premises of the facility whenever patients are being treated.

(6) Lighting must be sufficient to carry out services safely; room temperature must be maintained at comfortable levels; and ventilation through windows, mechanical means, or a combination of both must be provided.

(7) Safe and sufficient space must be available for the scope of services offered.

(b) Standard: Sanitary environment. The facility must maintain a sanitary environment and establish a program to identify, investigate, prevent, and control the cause of patient infections.

(1) The facility must establish written policies and procedures designed to control and prevent infection in the facility and to investigate and identify possible causes of infection.

(2) The facility must monitor the infection control program to ensure that the staff implement the policies and procedures and that the policies and procedures are consistent with current practices in the field.

(3) The facility must make available at all times a quantity of laundered linen adequate for proper care and comfort of patients. Linens must be handled, stored, and processed in a manner that prevents the spread of infection.

(4) Provisions must be in effect to ensure that the facility's premises are maintained free of rodent and insect infestation.

(c) Standard: Maintenance of equipment, physical location, and grounds. The facility must establish a written preventive maintenance program to ensure that—

(1) All equipment is properly maintained and equipment needing periodic calibration is calibrated consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations; and

(2) The interior of the facility, the exterior of the physical structure housing the facility, and the exterior walkways and parking areas are clean and orderly and maintained free of any defects that are a hazard to patients, personnel, and the public.

(d) Standard: Access for the physically impaired. The facility must ensure the following:

(1) Doorways, stairwells, corridors, and passageways used by patients are—

(i) Of adequate width to allow for easy movement of all patients (including those on stretchers or in wheelchairs); and

(ii) In the case of stairwells, equipped with firmly attached handrails on at least one side.

(2) At least one toilet facility is accessible and constructed to allow utilization by ambulatory and nonambulatory individuals.

(3) At least one entrance is usable by individuals in wheelchairs.

(4) In multi-story buildings, elevators are accessible to and usable by the physically impaired on the level that they use to enter the building and all levels normally used by the patients of the facility.

(5) Parking spaces are large enough and close enough to the facility to allow safe access by the physically impaired.

The facility must have in effect a written utilization review plan that is implemented annually, to assess the necessity of services and promotes the most efficient use of services provided by the facility.

(a) Standard: Utilization review committee. The utilization review committee, consisting of the group of professional personnel specified in § 485.56(c), a committee of this group, or a group of similar composition, comprised by professional personnel not associated with the facility, must carry out the utilization review plan.

(b) Standard: Utilization review plan. The utilization review plan must contain written procedures for evaluating—

(1) Admissions, continued care, and discharges using, at a minimum, the criteria established in the patient care policies;

(2) The applicability of the plan of treatment to established goals; and

(3) The adequacy of clinical records with regard to—

(i) Assessing the quality of services provided; and

(ii) Determining whether the facility's policies and clinical practices are compatible and promote appropriate and efficient utilization of services.

The Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) must comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local emergency preparedness requirements. The CORF must establish and maintain an emergency preparedness program that meets the requirements of this section. The emergency preparedness program must include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

(a) Emergency plan. The CORF must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan that must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. The plan must do all of the following:

(1) Be based on and include a documented, facility-based and community-based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach.

(2) Include strategies for addressing emergency events identified by the risk assessment.

(3) Address patient population, including, but not limited to, the type of services the CORF has the ability to provide in an emergency; and continuity of operations, including delegations of authority and succession plans.

(4) Include a process for cooperation and collaboration with local, tribal, regional, State, and Federal emergency preparedness officials' efforts to maintain an integrated response during a disaster or emergency situation.

(5) Be developed and maintained with assistance from fire, safety, and other appropriate experts.

(b) Policies and procedures. The CORF must develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures, based on the emergency plan set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, risk assessment at paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and the communication plan at paragraph (c) of this section. The policies and procedures must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. At a minimum, the policies and procedures must address the following:

(1) Safe evacuation from the CORF, which includes staff responsibilities, and needs of the patients.

(2) A means to shelter in place for patients, staff, and volunteers who remain in the facility.

(3) A system of medical documentation that preserves patient information, protects confidentiality of patient information, and secures and maintains the availability of records.

(4) The use of volunteers in an emergency and other emergency staffing strategies, including the process and role for integration of State or Federally designated health care professionals to address surge needs during an emergency.

(c) Communication plan. The CORF must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan that complies with Federal, State, and local laws and must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years. The communication plan must include all of the following:

(1) Names and contact information for the following:

(i) Staff.

(ii) Entities providing services under arrangement.

(iii) Patients' physicians.

(iv) Other CORFs.

(v) Volunteers.

(2) Contact information for the following:

(i) Federal, State, tribal, regional and local emergency preparedness staff.

(ii) Other sources of assistance.

(3) Primary and alternate means for communicating with the CORF's staff, Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies.

(4) A method for sharing information and medical documentation for patients under the CORF's care, as necessary, with other health care providers to maintain the continuity of care.

(5) A means of providing information about the CORF's needs, and its ability to provide assistance, to the authority having jurisdiction or the Incident Command Center, or designee.

(d) Training and testing. The CORF must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness training and testing program that is based on the emergency plan set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, risk assessment at paragraph (a)(1) of this section, policies and procedures at paragraph (b) of this section, and the communication plan at paragraph (c) of this section. The training and testing program must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years.

(1) Training program. The CORF must do all of the following:

(i) Provide initial training in emergency preparedness policies and procedures to all new and existing staff, individuals providing services under arrangement, and volunteers, consistent with their expected roles.

(ii) Provide emergency preparedness training at least every 2 years.

(iii) Maintain documentation of the training.

(iv) Demonstrate staff knowledge of emergency procedures. All new personnel must be oriented and assigned specific responsibilities regarding the CORF's emergency plan within 2 weeks of their first workday. The training program must include instruction in the location and use of alarm systems and signals and firefighting equipment.

(v) If the emergency preparedness policies and procedures are significantly updated, the CORF must conduct training on the updated policies and procedures.

(2) Testing. The CORF must conduct exercises to test the emergency plan at least annually. The CORF must do the following:

(i) Participate in a full-scale exercise that is community-based every 2 years; or

(A) When a community-based exercise is not accessible, conduct an individual, facility-based functional exercise every 2 years; or

(B) If the CORF experiences an actual natural or man-made emergency that requires activation of the emergency plan, the CORF is exempt from engaging in its next required community-based or individual, facility-based functional exercise following the onset of the emergency event.

(ii) Conduct an additional exercise every 2 years, opposite the year the full-scale or functional exercise under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section is conducted, that may include, but is not limited to the following:

(A) A second full-scale exercise that is community-based or an individual, facility-based functional exercise; or

(B) A mock disaster drill; or

(C) A tabletop exercise or workshop that is led by a facilitator and includes a group discussion, using a narrated, clinically-relevant emergency scenario, and a set of problem statements, directed messages, or prepared questions designed to challenge an emergency plan.

(iii) Analyze the CORF's response to and maintain documentation of all drills, tabletop exercises, and emergency events, and revise the CORF's emergency plan, as needed.

(e) Integrated healthcare systems. If a CORF is part of a healthcare system consisting of multiple separately certified healthcare facilities that elects to have a unified and integrated emergency preparedness program, the CORF may choose to participate in the healthcare system's coordinated emergency preparedness program. If elected, the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program must do all of the following:

(1) Demonstrate that each separately certified facility within the system actively participated in the development of the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program.

(2) Be developed and maintained in a manner that takes into account each separately certified facility's unique circumstances, patient populations, and services offered.

(3) Demonstrate that each separately certified facility is capable of actively using the unified and integrated emergency preparedness program and is in compliance with the program.

(4) Include a unified and integrated emergency plan that meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2), (3), and (4) of this section. The unified and integrated emergency plan must also be based on and include the following:

(i) A documented community-based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach.

(ii) A documented individual facility-based risk assessment for each separately certified facility within the health system, utilizing an all-hazards approach.

(5) Include integrated policies and procedures that meet the requirements set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, a coordinated communication plan and training and testing programs that meet the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, respectively.

This section sets forth the qualifications that must be met, as a condition of participation, under § 485.58, and as a condition of coverage of services under § 410.100 of this chapter.

(a) A facility physician must be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who—

(1) Is licensed under State law to practice medicine or surgery; and

(2) Has had, subsequent to completing a 1-year hospital internship, at least 1 year of training in the medical management of patients requiring rehabilitation services; or

(3) Has had at least 1 year of full-time or part-time experience in a rehabilitation setting providing physicians' services similar to those required in this subpart.

(b) A licensed practical nurse must be licensed as a practical or vocational nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable.

(c) An occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter.

(d) An orthotist must—

(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;

(2) Have successfully completed a training program in orthotics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and

(3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in orthotics.

(e) A physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter.

(f) A prosthetist must—

(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;

(2) Have successfully completed a training program in prosthetics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and

(3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in prosthetics.

(g) A psychologist must be certified or licensed by the State in which he or she is practicing, if that State requires certification or licensing, and must hold a masters degree in psychology from and educational institution approved by the State in which the institution is located.

(h) A registered nurse must be a graduate of an approved school of nursing and be licensed as a registered nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable.

(i) A rehabilitation counselor must—

(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;

(2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree; and

(3) Be eligible to take the certification examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

(j) A respiratory therapist must complete one the following criteria:

(1) Criterion 1. All of the following must be completed:

(i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable.

(ii) Have successfully completed a nationally-accredited educational program for respiratory therapists.

(iii)(A) Be eligible to take the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists; or

(B) Have passed the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists.

(2) Criterion 2: All of the following must be completed:

(i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable.

(ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

(k) A respiratory therapy technician must—

(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;

(2) Have successfully completed a training program accredited by the Committees on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education; and

(3) Either—

(i) Be eligible to take the certification examination for respiratory therapy technicians administered by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc,; or

(ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc.

(l) A social worker must—

(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;

(2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from a school accredited or approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and

(3) Have 1 year of social work experience in a health care setting.

(m) A speech-language pathologist must meet the qualifications set forth in part 484 of this chapter.

The appeal provisions set forth in part 498 of this chapter, for providers, are applicable to any entity that is participating or seeks to participate in the Medicare program as a CORF.