The Monster Under the Bed?

You've waited to become accredited because you thought it was too expensive, too cumbersome and had no relevance to your daily operations. But now, mandatory accreditation is right around the corner — less than one year away for the lucky providers in those 10 areas where competitive bidding will begin.

With CMS slow in giving direction (provider quality standards are currently expected to be released this spring), how can you get the ball rolling? Here's a way to tackle the project by creating a realistic work plan and dividing the process into manageable components for you and your staff.

Selecting An Accreditor

This is the decision that home medical equipment companies seem to struggle with the most, but once you've made your choice, you will be ready to move forward.

As you review their Web sites, talk to their representatives at conferences and call their offices to ask questions, there are several things you should consider when determining which accrediting organization you are going to select.

First, check with the networks and other payers with whom your company participates to see whether they require accreditation by a particular provider. In the next few years, once CMS recognizes and approves HME accreditation organizations, it is logical to expect that most payers, networks and states will recognize those same accreditors.

In the meantime, there are several accrediting organizations working within the HME sector. Check out all of them to see which you think will be the best fit for your business.

Don't let the cost of the application and accreditation fees be your sole determining factor. You may hear that one accreditation costs $3,500 and one costs $7,000. Ask to whom and how that cost applies.

Is that the cost for a company with fewer than 50 patients on service? Are surveyor expenses and survey day per diems added to this rate? Do you have to hire additional staff to implement and maintain this accreditor's standards? Do you have to perform a formal update/review? How often? Are their surveys announced or unannounced?

In the end, it may appear that HME accreditation fees are similar — but remember that these accreditors' requirements are not at all the same. Remember too, this will probably be a three-year accreditation cost. Divide the expense incurred over three years, and take a look at what your requirements are for work during those three years.