Guidelines for restraint use in Medicare/Medicaid hospitals are primarily governed by which policy area?

Guidelines for restraint use in Medicare/Medicaid hospitals are primarily governed by which policy area?

• A. Depression Screening
• B. Entrapment Risks
• C. Fall Risk Prevention
• D. CMS Policy Regulations

Answer: (D)

Federal policy regulations govern restraint use in Medicare/Medicaid hospitals. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establish the rules for when restraints can be used, require physician orders, ongoing assessment, documentation, and regular reevaluation, and mandate attempts at the least restrictive alternatives first. While fall risk, depression screening, and entrapment risk are important patient safety topics, they are not the binding framework that sets restraints policy across Medicare/Medicaid facilities. Those guidelines sit within CMS Conditions of Participation and related policy regulations, which hospitals must follow to participate in Medicare/Medicaid.

Federal policy regulations govern restraint use in Medicare/Medicaid hospitals. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establish the rules for when restraints can be used, require physician orders, ongoing assessment, documentation, and regular reevaluation, and mandate attempts at the least restrictive alternatives first. While fall risk, depression screening, and entrapment risk are important patient safety topics, they are not the binding framework that sets restraints policy across Medicare/Medicaid facilities. Those guidelines sit within CMS Conditions of Participation and related policy regulations, which hospitals must follow to participate in Medicare/Medicaid.