Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/06/27/2014-15101/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-application-from-the-joint-commission-for-continued-approval-of-its
Timestamp: 2018-07-18 07:35:34
Document Index: 451053046

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 489', 'art 488', 'art 416', 'art 416', 'art 488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488', '§\u2009488']

Federal Register :: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From the Joint Commission for Continued Approval of Its Ambulatory Surgical Center Accreditation Program
36522-36524 (3 pages)
CMS-3297-PN
CMS-2014-0081
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-15101 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-15101
In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3297-PN. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.
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-3297-PN, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.Start Printed Page 36523
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-3297-PN, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Monda Shaver, (410) 786-3410. Cindy Melanson, (410) 786-0310. Patricia Chmielewski, (410) 786-6899.
Submitting Comments: We welcome comments from the public on all issues set forth in this proposed notice to assist us in fully considering issues and developing policies. Referencing the file code CMS-3297-PN and the specific “issue identifier” that precedes the section on which you choose to comment will assist us in fully considering issues and developing policies.
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive covered services from an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) provided certain requirements are met. Section 1832 (a)(2)(F)(i) of the Social Security Act (the Act) establishes distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as an ASC. 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 416 specify the minimum conditions that an ASC must meet to participate in the Medicare program.
Generally, to enter into an agreement, an ASC must first be certified by a State survey agency as complying with the conditions or requirements set forth in part 416 of our regulations. Thereafter, the ASC is subject to regular surveys by a State survey agency to determine whether it continues to meet these requirements.
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 would 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 accrediting organizations to reapply for continued approval of its accreditation program every 6 years or as determined by CMS.
The Joint Commission's current term of approval for their ASC accreditation program expires December 20, 2014.
The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of the Joint Commission's request for continued approval of its ASC accreditation program. This notice also solicits public comment on whether the Joint Commission's requirements meet or exceed the Medicare conditions for coverage (CfCs) for ASCs.
The Joint Commission submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a determination concerning its request for continued approval of its ASC accreditation program. This application was determined to be Start Printed Page 36524complete on May 2, 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 ASCs as compared with our ASC CfCs.
++ The Joint Commission's processes and procedures for monitoring an ASC 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 agreement to provide CMS with a copy of the most current accreditation survey together with any other information related to the survey that we may require (including corrective action plans).
This document does not impose information collection requirements, that is, no reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).
[FR Doc. 2014-15101 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]