BALTIMORE--Following a 4 1/2-hour conference Oct. 14 to advise providers on meeting its quality standards for mandatory accreditation, CMS posted the revised standards on its Web site last Tuesday.
The final standards are similar to the draft standards proposed in February, according to the agency’s Sandra Bastinelli, who conducted the explanatory conference. However, the changes do include:
--A requirement that the RTS (Rehab Technology Supplier) be a W-2 employee. The final standards also recognize RESNA’s new ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) credential that is effective Jan. 1.
--A new section on therapeutic shoes and inserts.
CMS has set Sept. 30, 2009, as the deadline by which all DMEPOS suppliers must be accredited in order to continue Medicare billing privileges. During the conference, Bastinelli also urged providers to get their accreditation applications in by Jan. 31, 2009, in order to make sure they have time to meet the September deadline. CMS has said it cannot guarantee accreditation for providers who do not apply to one of its approved accrediting bodies by Jan. 31.
View a PDF of the final quality standards document (with changes highlighted in yellow).