Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/07/24/E9-17611/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-application-of-the-accreditation-commission-for-health-care-for
Timestamp: 2019-10-22 06:55:45
Document Index: 733149861

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

Federal Register :: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Application of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care for Deeming Authority for Hospices
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Application of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care for Deeming Authority for Hospices
74 FR 36720
36720-36722 (3 pages)
CMS-2305-PN
E9-17611
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-17611 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-17611
This proposed notice acknowledges the receipt of a deeming application from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospices that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act 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 August 24, 2009.
In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-2305-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-2305-PN, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
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-2305-PN, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
(Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building is not readily available to persons without Federal government identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.)Start Printed Page 36721
(If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, please call telephone number (410) 786-7195 in advance to schedule your arrival with one of our staff members.)
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive covered services from a hospice provided certain requirements are met. Section 1861(dd)(2) of the Social Security Act (the Act) establish distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a hospice program. 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 hospices.
Section 1865(a)(1) of the Act (as redesignated under section 125 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) (Pub. L. 110-275)) 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 we determine.
The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of ACHC's request for deeming authority for hospices. This notice also solicits public comment on whether ACHC's requirements meet or exceed the Medicare conditions for participation for hospices.
ACHC submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a determination concerning its request for approval as a deeming organization for hospices. This application was determined to be complete on May 25, 2009. Under Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at § 488.8 (Federal review of accrediting organizations), our review and evaluation of ACHC will be conducted in accordance with, but not necessarily limited to, the following factors:
The equivalency of ACHC's standards for a hospice as compared with CMS' hospice conditions of participation.
—The comparability of ACHC's processes to those of State agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to investigate and respond appropriately to complaints against accredited facilities.
—ACHC's processes and procedures for monitoring hospices found out of compliance with ACHC's program requirements. These monitoring procedures are used only when ACHC identifies noncompliance. If noncompliance is identified through validation reviews, the State survey agency monitors corrections as specified at § 488.7(d).
—ACHC's capacity to report deficiencies to the surveyed facilities and respond to the facility's plan of correction in a timely manner.
—ACHC's capacity to provide us with electronic data and reports necessary for effective validation and Start Printed Page 36722assessment of the organization's survey process.
—The adequacy of ACHC's staff and other resources, and its financial viability.
—ACHC's capacity to adequately fund required surveys.
—ACHC's policies with respect to whether surveys are announced or unannounced, to assure that surveys are unannounced.
—ACHC's agreement to provide us with a copy of the most current accreditation survey together with any other information related to the survey as we may require (including corrective action plans).
[FR Doc. E9-17611 Filed 7-23-09; 8:45 am]