Topic outline
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
Per Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) - The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1979. A certificate of accreditation is awarded to organizations that are found to be in compliance with AAAHC Standards.
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Accreditation Association for Hospitals/Health Systems (AAHHS)
Per AAHHS -AAAHC saw that rural hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAH), and small specialty/surgical hospitals are often below the radar where accreditation is concerned, even though they maintain extremely high standards of care.
In 2012, AAHHS was created specifically to fill this need. At AAHHS, we offer an accreditation process that was designed from the outset to evaluate the personal approach to patient care typical of hospitals like yours. We bring the same personal touch to our accreditation process.
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
Per Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) - Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) is an independent, private, not-for-profit corporation established in 1986. The Association for Home & Hospice Care (AHHC) of North Carolina established ACHC to ensure quality, patient-focused, clearly written accreditation standards for in-home aide services. ACHC has gained respect and recognition as an accrediting organization uniquely committed to health care providers. The entire accreditation process is a collaborative, educational, and genuinely patient-focused approach.
ACHC Specializes in Accreditation.
Home Health
Hospice
DMEPOS
Pharmacy
Private Duty
Sleep Lab/Center
Behavioral HealthCenter for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) Hospital Accreditation Program
Per Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) - Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality is the nation's newest accreditation provider approved by CMS to deem acute care hospitals as meeting Medicare Conditions of Participation.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - Home page. The Home page for CMS provides an overview of all their services. See the link below.
CMS maintains oversight for compliance with the Medicare health and safety standards for laboratories, acute and continuing care providers (including hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies (HHAs), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, hospices, and other facilities serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries), and makes available to beneficiaries, providers/suppliers, researchers and State surveyors information about these activities. See the Survey and Certificate - General Information link below for more information.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Interpretive Guidelines
The Interpretive Guidelines and Survey Procedures for various providers or suppliers are located in the Appendices to the State Operations Manual (SOM). For example: Hospitals = Appendix A, Psychiatric Hospitals = Appendix AA, EMTALA= Appendix V, or Critical Access Hospitals = Appendix W. Click on the appropriate letter to see that State Operation Manual (SOM) and those Interpretive Guidelines. See the CMS Interpretive Guidelines link below.
Survey and Certification Letters (Policy & Memos to States and Regions)
CMS Survey and Certification (S&C) releases information related to survey and certification guidance for various providers and suppliers to its Regional Offices and the State Survey Agencies through communications called Survey and Certification Letters. The letters are released on an ongoing basis. Once a letter is released, it is posted on the CMS website. The letters can be accessed from the CMS Survey and Certification Home Page. Once at that page, look to the left of the page and select the hyperlink that states, “Policy & Memos to States and Regions”. The letters are organized by Federal fiscal years. AND - this information can be access via the Policy & Memos to States and Regions link below.
CMS Transmittals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses transmittals to communicate new or changed policies or procedures that we will incorporate into the CMS Online Manual System. The cover or transmittal page summarizes and specifies the changes. Older transmittals have been archived.
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP)
CHAP is an independent, nonprofit, accrediting body for community-based health care organizations, which accredits nine programs and services. As the oldest national community-based accrediting body with more than 8,300 sites currently accredited, our purpose is to define and advance the highest quality of community-based care.
Through “deeming authority” granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice and home medical equipment services to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards.
CHAP provides accreditation services for the following nine services:
- Home Health (deemed and non-deemed)
- Hospice (deemed and non-deemed)
- Home Medical Equipment
- Pharmacy
- Private Duty Nursing
- Infusion Therapy Nursing
- Public Health
- Community Nursing Centers
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare
Per Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare - DNV works with national healthcare authorities and healthcare providers around the world to effectively manage risk and improve healthcare delivery. Our team of healthcare and risk management specialists has an innovative, advanced approach to help healthcare providers globally in identifying, assessing and managing risk, enhancing patient safety and quality, while ensuring sustainable business practice.
Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)
Per Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) - HFAP is authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to survey hospitals for compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation and Coverage.
Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA)
Per Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) - Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) is the only accreditation organization that combines a web-based process with individualized accreditation coaching. Because HQAA was created exclusively for HME companies, it is geared to your business and the industry’s high standards.
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
Per National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) - NCQA Accreditation helps organizations win business, meet regulatory requirements and distinguish themselves from the competition.
Certification products represent a subset of the standards and guidelines for our accreditation products and are appropriate for organizations that provide specific services but not comprehensive programs.
Credentials Verification Organizations (CVO), Disease Management (DM), Health Information Products (HIP), Utilization Management and Credentialing (UM/CR), Physician and Hospital Quality (PHQ), Wellness & Health Promotion (WHP)
NCQA Clinician Recognition Programs empower employers, health plans, patients and consumers to make informed heath care decisions based on quality.
Public Health Improvement and Accreditation - The Community Guide
Per The Community Guide - Interest in initiatives that focus on public health improvement is increasing. This includes support for accreditation of public health departments, administered by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) External Web Site Icon. Interest in public health improvement is also shown by increasing expectations that health departments should use evidence-based programs, services, and policies such as those included in The Community Guide.
The Compliance Team
Per The Compliance Team - The Compliance Team is a nationally recognized healthcare accreditation organization that provides industry leading Exemplary Provider® branded accreditation services to thousands of providers in all fifty states, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
The firm was formed in 1994 and is the first certified woman-owned healthcare accreditation organization to hold “deeming authority” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.The Joint Commission (TJC)
Per The Joint Commission (TJC) - TJC is an independent, not-for-profit organization. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States - and offers Disease-Specific Care Certifications.
Here are various Websites for The Joint Commission.
Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC)
Per Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) - URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a well-known leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education, and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that model the rapid changes in the health care system and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry.