Tag: Tim Safley
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...
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: Document all complaints
October 10, 2023Tim Safley
Q. Why does my accrediting organization ask about complaints?
A. A delivery is late, someone is unhappy with their bill, a phone call was on hold for an extended time. Each of these incidents may seem minor and yet your surveyor expects to see documentation of complaints.
Accrediting organizations (AOs) are guided by CMS when it comes to how DME suppliers handle complaints. CMS requirements address complaints in both the supplier and the quality standards.
CMS...
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...
ACHC’s Tim Safley on a provider’s worth
June 24, 2022Liz Beaulieu, Editor
CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care recently published a 2021 annual report that highlights recent accomplishments, including its new programs for clinical respiratory patient management and custom mobility and its increased educational offerings.
Tim Safley, program director for the DMEPOS, Sleep and Mobile Dentistry accreditation programs, shared how the role of accrediting organizations is evolving along with its customers.
HME News: Why did ACHC want...