Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/11/28/E8-28178/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-application-by-the-joint-commission-for-continued-deeming-authority
Timestamp: 2017-09-23 08:05:59
Document Index: 771896545

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 489', 'art 488', 'art 418', 'art 418', 'art 488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488']

Federal Register :: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Application by the Joint Commission for Continued Deeming Authority for Hospices
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Application by the Joint Commission for Continued Deeming Authority for Hospices
A Notice by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on 11/28/2008
73 FR 72487
72487-72489 (3 pages)
CMS-2294-PN
E8-28178
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E8-28178 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E8-28178
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, (CMS), HHS.
This proposed notice with comment period acknowledges the receipt of a deeming application from the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospices that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Section 1865(b)(3)(A) of the Act, recodified under the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-275, July 15, 2008) (MIPPA) as section 1865(a)(3)(A) requires that within 60 days of receipt of an organization's complete application, we publish a notice that identifies the national accrediting body making the request, describes the nature of the request, and provides at least a 30-day public comment period.
Comment Date: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on December 29, 2008.
In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-2294-PN. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific issues in this regulation to http://www.regulation.gov. Follow the instructions for “Comment or Submission” and enter the filecode to find the document accepting comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address only: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-2294-PN, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address only: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-2294-PN, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
a. Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201; or
Start Further Info Start Printed Page 72488
Alexis Prete, (410) 786-0375. Patricia Chmielewski, (410) 786-6899.
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive covered services from a hospice provided certain requirements are met. Sections 1861(dd)(1) of the Social Security Act (the Act) establish distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a hospice. Regulations concerning provider agreements are at 42 CFR part 489 and those pertaining to activities relating to the survey and certification of facilities are at 42 CFR part 488. The regulations at 42 CFR part 418, specify the conditions that a hospice must meet in order to participate in the Medicare program, the scope of covered services and the conditions for Medicare payment for Hospice care.
Generally, in order to enter into a provider agreement with the Medicare program, a hospice must first be certified by a State survey agency as complying with the conditions or requirements set forth in part 418 of our CMS regulations. Thereafter, the hospice is subject to regular surveys by a State survey agency to determine whether it continues to meet these requirements. There is an alternative, however, to surveys by State agencies.
Section 1865(b)(1) of the Act provides that, if a provider entity demonstrates through accreditation by an approved national accrediting organization that all applicable Medicare conditions are met or exceeded, we will deem those provider entities as having met the requirements. Accreditation by an accrediting organization is voluntary and is not required for Medicare participation.
If an accrediting organization is recognized by the Secretary as having standards for accreditation that meet or exceed Medicare requirements, any provider entity accredited by the national accrediting body's approved program would be deemed to meet the Medicare conditions. A national accrediting organization applying for deeming authority under part 488, subpart A must provide us with reasonable assurance that the accrediting organization requires the accredited provider entities to meet requirements that are at least as stringent as the Medicare conditions. Our regulations concerning the reapproval of accrediting organizations are set forth at § 488.4 and 488.8(d)(3). The regulations at § 488.8(d)(3) require accrediting organizations to reapply for continued deeming authority every six years or sooner as determined by CMS.
The Joint Commission's term of approval as a recognized accreditation program for hospice's expires March 31, 2009.
Section 1865(b)(2) of the Act (now section 1865(a)(2)) and our regulations at § 488.8(a) require that our findings concerning review and reapproval of a national accrediting organization's requirements consider, among other factors, the applying accrediting organization's: Requirements for accreditation; survey procedures; resources for conducting required surveys; capacity to furnish information for use in enforcement activities; monitoring procedures for provider entities found not in compliance with the conditions or requirements; and ability to provide us with the necessary data for validation.
Section 1865(b)(3)(A) of the Act (now 1865(a)(3)(A)) further requires that we publish, within 60 days of receipt of an organization's complete application, a notice identifying the national accrediting body making the request, describing the nature of the request, and providing at least a 30-day public comment period. We have 210 days from the receipt of a complete application to publish notice of approval or denial of the application.
The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of the Joint Commission's request for continued deeming authority for hospices. This notice also solicits public comment on whether the Joint Commission's requirements meet or exceed the Medicare conditions for participation for hospices.
The Joint Commission submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a determination concerning its request for reapproval as a deeming organization for hospices. This application was determined to be complete on October 24, 2008. Under section 1865(b)(2) of the Act (now 1865(a)(2)) and our regulations at § 488.8 (Federal review of accrediting organizations), our review and evaluation of the Joint Commission will be conducted in accordance with, but not necessarily limited to, the following factors:
The equivalency of the Joint Commission's standards for hospices as compared with CMS' hospice conditions of participation.
—The Joint Commission's processes and procedures for monitoring hospices found out of compliance with the Joint Commission's program requirements. These monitoring procedures are used only when the Joint Commission identifies noncompliance. If noncompliance is identified through validation reviews, the State survey agency monitors corrections as specified at § 488.7(d).
—The Joint Commission's capacity to provide us with electronic data, and reports necessary for effective validation and assessment of the organization's survey process.
—The Joint Commission's agreement to provide us with a copy of the most current accreditation survey together Start Printed Page 72489with any other information related to the survey as we may require (including corrective action plans).
[FR Doc. E8-28178 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]