AHA wants court to dismiss government's two-midnight rule challenge

The American Hospital Association urged a federal judge to deny the government's motion to dismiss its challenge to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' two-midnight rule and instead, grant the organization a favorable ruling, according to a motion filed for a summary judgment. In April, the group filed a lawsuit challenging the various requirements of the two-midnight rule as arbitrary and capricious--making it invalid under federal law, according to AHA News. The two-midnight rule states that doctors admitting Medicare beneficiaries to the hospital must expect the patient to stay at least two midnights for the hospital to receive payment for inpatient care. Announcement