Dealer/Provider: Should HME providers wait for more direction from CMS before starting the accreditation process?
Mary Ellen Conway: The short answer is NO. The long answer requires more of an explanation. On March 1, CMS released the draft list of DME quality standards. There are eight “domains” that these standards fall into:

• organizational structure
• financial management
• human resources
• patient/client management
• assessment and evaluation of quality
• facility and patient environment
• safety management
• ethics/rights
• information management

All three nationally industry-recognized accreditation organizations (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO], Community Health Accreditation Program [CHAP], and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care [ACHC]) have standards that match these requirements. The accrediting bodies themselves will have to apply to become “recognized” or “deemed providers.” At this point, JCAHO and CHAP are already recognized as “deemed providers” by CMS in home health and hospice, although they will have to apply for the DME recognition. ACHC has applied for this designation in home health and hospice as well. One would think that these three organizations have a pretty good chance of being accepted in this program on the DME side if they are already meeting home health requirements.

No one is sure how many DME providers must become accredited, but estimates of 30,000 have been batted around. No three or even 10 companies could get through a deluge of this magnitude in one year’s time. Also, it often takes companies anywhere from 3 to 9 months to gather the data they need to submit their application for accreditation. Once that application is received, it can then take 2 to 4 months to schedule your on-site survey/site visit.

Dealer/Provider: Will accreditation be mandatory for providers who wish to be eligible for competitive bidding?
Conway: Yes, the expectation is that the final quality standards will be released prior to the implementation of competitive bidding so that appropriately accredited providers will be eligible to bid.

Dealer/Provider: Among HME providers, what is the biggest misconception about accreditation?
Conway: The first is that you complete an application, mail your check, and receive an accreditation certificate. The second is that it is a waste of time. Every provider I have met says accreditation improved his or her business.

Dealer/Provider: What should an HME provider look for in an accreditation organization?
Conway: By the end of the year we will see who CMS selects as “deemed providers” of accreditation. As long as an organization can meet CMS’s rigorous requirements, you might have a choice of several. Right now, look for the program that works for your organization.

If a particular accreditation program is required by your referral sources or networks you participate in, then your choice has already been made. If not, visit the booths at MedTrade, look at the standards, talk to the staff, and talk to providers who are accredited by them.

Mary Ellen Conway can be reached through her Web site: www.capitalhealthcaregroup.com.