Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Approval of Application by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) for Continued CMS-Approval of its Hospice Accreditation Program
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospice programs. This approval allows hospices accredited by ACHC to be "deemed" as meeting Medicare Conditions of Participation without separate state surveys. The term of approval runs from November 27, 2025, through November 27, 2031 (six years). ACHC was required to revise multiple standards and survey processes to align more closely with Medicare regulations before receiving final approval. All public comments received were supportive of the renewal.
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Key Changes
- Approval period: November 27, 2025 through November 27, 2031 (6 years)
- ACHC revised 15 specific standards including Sections 418.52, 418.54, 418.58, 418.100, 418.104, 418.112, 418.114 and 418.116
- Updated survey processes to include 2012 Life Safety Code, 2012 Health Care Facilities Code, and 2013 Fire Safety Evaluation System
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Obligations
What this law requires
ACHC must maintain approval term through November 27, 2031, after which it must reapply for continued CMS approval of its Medicare hospice accreditation program
ACHC must ensure its Medicare hospice accreditation program standards meet or exceed all applicable Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) set forth in 42 CFR part 418, subparts C and D
ACHC must provide CMS with electronic data and reports necessary for effective validation and assessment of the organization's survey process
ACHC must provide CMS with a copy of the most current accreditation survey together with any other information related to the survey as CMS may require, including corrective action plans
ACHC must conduct unannounced surveys of accredited hospices in accordance with its established policies