THE
SURVEYOR
I SPRING 2014
CMS REPORT ON ACCREDITATION
Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
evaluate the approved accreditation organizations (AOs) on the
performance of the Home Health and Hospice Programs with
deeming authority. As an accreditor with deeming authority, ACHC’s
role is to ensure that the Home Health and Hospice agencies
are in compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation
(CoPs). ACHC makes recommendations for agencies to be under
our authority as opposed to the state’s authority, and then it is our
responsibility to ensure continuous compliance. As part of the AO’s
evaluation, CMS sends out Surveyors to conduct validation surveys
shortly after the AO conducts its on-site visit. The surveys verify that
the AO is conducting its survey appropriately and that deficiencies, if
any, are cited correctly.
What does this mean to the agency?
IT MEANS THE FOLLOWING:
A smaller chance for a resurvey after the
AO has issued an approval
The 855 forms for startups will continue
processing so they can obtain their
provider number and begin to bill
The agency can feel comfortable that
they are following
the Medicare regulations
ACHC Surveyors are known for their consultative approach and
for providing the best possible experience to customers during the
accreditation survey. Agencies should take some comfort in knowing
that they have partnered with an AO that has held them to the same
standards that CMS expects, and that their AO is committed to
helping them achieve and maintain compliance throughout their
accreditation cycle.
In CMS’s most recently-published financial report, ACHC had the
lowest disparity rate among all deemed accreditors. The disparity
rate is calculated based on the number of condition-level findings
identified during the validation survey divided by the total number
of validation surveys performed.
In 2013, ACHC
partnered with
DNV Healthcare,
a leading accreditor of US hospitals
and healthcare systems, to offer
a total accreditation solution.
Together, ACHC and DNV now
provide single-source accreditation
for hospitals and health systems and
their ancillary services.
6
I 855-YES-ACHC (855-937-2242) I
achc.org
To find out how you can have a better accreditation experience with
ACHC and DNV, visit achc.org.