Mandatory Accreditation

Since the late 1980s, accreditation has been voluntary for home medical equipment providers in the Medicare program. But this is about to change. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 requires all durable medical equipment suppliers, along with home infusion service providers, to become accredited to maintain their Medicare supplier number.

Although the time frame for implementation has not been outlined, providers should start to think about accreditation — and begin the process.

Though not complex, the accreditation process does take time. It can be more than a year from the time you decide to become accredited until you receive the actual certificate.

Presently, it takes a minimum of six weeks for the accreditation bodies to schedule a survey — and this is with today's demand. Providers should anticipate that, as the CMS deadline draws near, the backlog for surveys will probably increase.

Getting Started

The first step is determining which accrediting organization is right for your company. This is not a one-size-fits-all process, and each accrediting body is unique. By visiting their Web sites, you can learn how each handles the process, including policies and procedures.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) currently does not require any self-assessment before the first survey, while the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare (ACHC) and the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) both require preliminary documentation, and both allow six months to prepare and submit this material. JCAHO has announced that it will require a self-assessment document in mid-cycle, rather than before the initial survey.

Second, check with payers and contractors to see if they have any accreditation requirements and if they recognize all three accrediting bodies. Third, look at the frequency of surveys. All accrediting bodies have a three-year cycle, and all three organizations may do random, unannounced surveys at mid-cycle. Besides these, JCAHO and ACHC do surveys once every three years, while CHAP may conduct surveys as frequently as annually based on recommendations of its Board of Review.