Tag: Accreditation
Accreditation/compliance: Maintain complaint log
May 8, 2024Mary Ellen Conway
Q. Why does my accreditor tell me that they or CMS may conduct an unannounced survey anytime during my three-year accreditation cycle and how common is that?
A. When the accreditation mandate began for DME in 2008, the DMEPOS accrediting organizations (AOs) that were approved by CMS for Medicare participation had a requirement to inform their accredited organizations that they would be subject to having an additional unannounced survey by the accreditor or by CMS at some point during...
Providers, AOs reach symbiosis
January 24, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
CARY, N.C. – Infection control and safety was flagged as an area for improvement in a recent review of accreditation surveys by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, but by and large, providers have a handle on standards, says Tim Safley.
More importantly, providers and accrediting organizations have achieved a kind of symbiosis these days, says Safley, program director for DMEPOS and Sleep Accreditation for ACHC.
“I’ve found more responsiveness to accreditation...
Infusion for Health achieves accreditation
December 18, 2023HME News Staff
BREA, Calif. – Infusion for Health has achieved accreditation for infusion therapy at its locations in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Washington through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. The company’s locations in California are scheduled to achieve accreditation in the first quarter of 2024. "This accreditation is a testament to our commitment to clinical excellence and exceptional care for our patients,” said Dan McCarty, CEO of Infusion for Health. “I am...
ACHC releases new survey findings
December 14, 2023HME News Staff
CARY, N.C. - The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has released a new Quality Review Edition of The Surveyor. The Surveyor includes actual survey findings and frequently cited deficiencies that serve to clarify specific aspects of standards found to be non-compliant. Following the sample citations are tips for compliance. The 16-page guide includes overviews of program and service operations, human resource management, record and risk management, and continuous operational improvement....
Accreditation: Membership has its privileges
December 12, 2023Tim Safley
Q. Where can I find industry resources when I need help?
A. For home medical equipment suppliers, there are relevant national and state-level associations that provide a platform for companies to come together, share knowledge, advocate for industry needs and collectively address challenges.
AAHomecare works at the national level. The organization is focused on presenting the story of HME’s value in the health care continuum to payors and regulators. By representing...
Accreditation: Educate staff on rentals
November 8, 2023Tim Safley
Q. As a provider approved by Medicare, am I obligated to offer rental equipment to Medicare beneficiaries?
A. Medicare Supplier Standard 5 states that the supplier advises beneficiaries that they may either rent or purchase inexpensive or routinely purchased durable medical equipment, and of the purchase option for capped rental durable medical equipment, as defined in §414.220(a) of this subchapter. (The supplier must provide, upon request, documentation that it has provided...
Accreditation: Align codes in PECOS
September 13, 2023Tim Safley
Q. What steps can my company take to safeguard reimbursement for products sold or rented to Medicare patients?
A. You may be receiving payment from a variety of sources including Medicare Part B and private payers. Your accreditation organization (AO) has a role to play because CMS requires that AOs verify the products you are supplying to patients and that you meet the requirements to supply those products. This may include the use of credentialed personnel, state licensure or other...
Three recommendations for providers approaching accreditation renewal
June 8, 2023Matt Gruskin
DMEPOS providers often view the accreditation renewal process as a daunting, time consuming and stress-inducing process—but it doesn’t have to be. While accreditation is essential to maintaining compliance with CMS and ensuring that businesses have a “patient safety first” mindset, providers can flip their mindset to view it as an opportunity to improve and evaluate their strategy.
Here are three recommendations for DMEPOS providers approaching their three-year cycle...
CareCentrix adds accreditation
May 9, 2023HME News Staff
HARTFORD, Conn. - CareCentrix has achieved Accreditation in Utilization Management from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This accreditation focuses on consumer protection and improvement in service to customers. It recognizes that organizations have open access networks and can improve service quality and utilize customized structures to meet purchaser needs. “CareCentrix is committed to coordinating the right patient care at the right time from hospital to home, and we’re...
Enhabit earns CHAP accreditation
April 14, 2023HME News Staff
DALLAS – Enhabit, Inc., a provider of hospice and home health services, has been awarded the Age-Friendly Care at Home Certification from Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) for its home health agencies in Petersburg, Virginia, and Clermont, Florida. The CHAP certification program brings Age-Friendly Health Systems, an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA)...