ACHC renewed as deeming authority for home health accreditation 

CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has received continued approval from CMS as a national accrediting organization for home health agencies (HHAs). This renewal, effective until 2031, affirms that ACHC’s accreditation program meets or exceeds Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for HHAs. “ACHC remains committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered accreditation services that help home health providers ensure compliance with CMS requirements while driving excellence in care,” said Susan Mills, ACHC senior program director. “This six-year renewal reflects our dedication to upholding the highest standards in the home health industry and supporting agencies in their mission to deliver outstanding patient care.” Deeming authority allows ACHC-accredited home health agencies to demonstrate compliance with Medicare CoPs without undergoing routine state surveys. Instead, ACHC conducts rigorous accreditation surveys that assess HHAs on critical operational and clinical performance standards, ensuring quality and safety in home-based health care services. To achieve continued CMS approval, ACHC underwent an extensive evaluation process, which included a comprehensive review of ACHC’s accreditation standards to ensure alignment with federal regulations, an assessment of ACHC’s surveyor training and performance to ensure consistency and effectiveness, a comparison of ACHC’s accreditation process with CMS survey requirements, including monitoring noncompliance and responding to deficiencies, and an analysis of ACHC’s ability to report survey findings and corrective actions in a timely manner.