A bill passed by the Senate and working its way through the House that would require CMS to extend an exemption to “direct supervision” rules for outpatient services in critical access and small rural hospitals has received a thumbs up from the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO estimated that extending the exemption through 2014 would not have an effect on the federal budget, nor would it create any unfunded mandates for state, local or tribal governments. The House version of...