Medicare program; changes to the ambulatory surgical centers patient rights conditions for coverage. Final rule

This final rule revises the ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) conditions for coverage (CfC) to allow patient rights information to be provided to the patient, the patient's representative, or the patient's surrogate prior to the start of the surgical procedure. In addition, we made minor changes to the CfC for patient rights requirements, as specified in the proposed rule. This final rule reflects the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS') commitment to the general principles of the President's Executive Order 13563 released January 18, 2011, entitled "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.'