Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/09/23/2014-22632/medicare-and-medicaid-program-application-from-the-joint-commission-for-continued-approval-of-its
Timestamp: 2018-03-19 11:25:11
Document Index: 526389193

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 489', 'art 488', 'art 482', 'art 482', 'art 488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488']

Federal Register :: Medicare and Medicaid Program; Application From the Joint Commission for Continued Approval of Its Psychiatric Hospital Accreditation Program
Medicare and Medicaid Program; Application From the Joint Commission for Continued Approval of Its Psychiatric Hospital Accreditation Program
CMS-2014-0131
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-22632 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-22632
This proposed notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for psychiatric hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. The statute 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.
To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on October 23, 2014.
In commenting, refer to file code CMS-3304-PN. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3304-PN, P.O. Box 8010, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3304-PN, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive covered services from a psychiatric hospital provided certain requirements are met. Section 1861(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act) establishes distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a psychiatric hospital. 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 482 subpart E, specify the minimum conditions that a psychiatric hospital must meet to participate in the Medicare program, the scope of covered services and the conditions for Medicare payment for psychiatric hospitals.
Generally, to enter into an agreement, a psychiatric hospital must first be certified by a State Survey Agency as complying with the conditions or requirements set forth in part 482 subpart E of our regulations. Thereafter, the psychiatric hospital 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(a)(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 may treat the provider entity as having met those conditions, that is, we may “deem” the provider entity 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 of the Department of Health and Human Services (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 may be deemed to meet the Medicare conditions. A national accrediting organization applying for approval of its accreditation program 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 approval of accrediting organizations are set forth at § 488.4 and § 488.8(d)(3). The regulations at § 488.8(d)(3) require an accrediting organization to reapply for continued approval of its accreditation program every 6 years or sooner as determined by CMS.
The Joint Commission's current term of approval for its psychiatric hospital accreditation program expires February 25, 2015.
The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of the Joint Commission's request for continued approval of its psychiatric hospital accreditation program. This notice also solicits public comment on whether the Joint Commission's requirements meet or exceed the Medicare conditions of participation (CoPs) for psychiatric hospitals.
The Joint Commission submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a determination concerning its request for continued approval of its psychiatric hospital accreditation program. This application was determined to be complete on July 30, 2014. Under Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act 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 psychiatric hospitals as compared with CMS' psychiatric hospital CoPs.
The Joint Commission's survey process to determine the following:Start Printed Page 56808
++ The comparability of the Joint Commission's processes to those of State Survey Agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to investigate and respond appropriately to complaints against accredited facilities.
++ The Joint Commission's processes and procedures for monitoring a psychiatric hospital 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 or complaint surveys, the State Survey Agency monitors corrections as specified at § 488.7(d).
++ The Joint Commission's capacity to report deficiencies to the surveyed facilities and respond to a facility's plan of correction in a timely manner.
++ The Joint Commission's policies to assure that surveys are unannounced.
++ The Joint Commission's agreement to provide CMS with a copy of a facility's most current accreditation survey together with any survey information that CMS may request (including corrective action plans).
[FR Doc. 2014-22632 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]