UPMC Transplant Program Resolves Paperwork Violations

Hospital officials say state inspectors have revisited UPMC's Presbyterian Shadyside transplant programs and have determined that violations of federal documentation rules have been corrected. UPMC spokeswoman Kristin Beaver says on June 14 the Pennsylvania Department of Health "re-surveyed UPMC's transplant programs and they informed our staff that seven of our programs have been re-certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the next three years."
A March inspection discovered "serious" violations and at the time UPMC said the paperwork problems were easily remedied. Inspectors never suggested that there was any danger to patients. However, if the health system had no corrected the problems within 6 months, it could have been denied Medicare reimbursements for transplants. Beaver says they expect to receive official notification of re-certification within a few weeks.