On April 29, 2011, CMS issued its Final Rule on Changes Affecting Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation: Credentialing and Privileging of Telemedicine Physicians and Practitioners.  As promised in its proposed rule, CMS revised 42 C.F.R. sections 482.12(a)(2), 482.22(a)(2) and 485.616(b) to allow hospitals or critical access hospitals that provide telemedicine services to patients via an agreement with a distant hospital or telemedicine entity to rely on information from that distant hospital or telemedicine entity in making credentialing and privileging decisions.  This revision not only brings Medicare regulations in line with The Joint Commission’s approved “privileging by proxy” process, but also relieves providers from a duplicative and burdensome process.  To review this new rule, click here.  For further comment on this rule, see our February 18, 2011 post. The new rule takes effect in 60 days.