Accreditation Central

HME providers who want to be considered for contracts in the first round of competitive bidding must be accredited by Oct. 31. And some experts believe CMS will soon announce a date by which all providers must be accredited in order to continue doing business with Medicare.

Which accrediting organization is best for your company? What are their distinguishing characteristics? How do you begin the process? How much does it cost?

Find the answers to these and other questions at Medtrade’s Accreditation Central to get the information you need for making decisions and moving forward.

Sponsored by HomeCare, Accreditation Central will feature representatives from a variety of accreditation organizations whose representatives will be on hand to talk with you during exhibit hall hours all three days of the show.

Don’t miss this opportunity to find the accrediting body that’s right for you.

• Accreditation Commission for Health Care
• American Board for Certification in Orthotics & Prosthetics
• Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification
• Community Health Accreditation Program
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
• The Compliance Team
• Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation
• The Joint Commission

HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday, October 2
10:00 am — 5:00 pm

Wednesday, October 3
10:00 am — 5:00 pm

Thursday, October 4
10:00 am — 3:00 pm

SCHEDULE OF PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday, October 2
11:00 am — 12:00 pm
BOC Facility Accreditation: Efficient and Economical for HME/DMEs

Be aware of your options. Learn about a less expensive and more efficient option for facility accreditation. BOC has CMS Deemed Status. Discuss the expectations of CMS mandatory Facility Accreditation standards and understand the process before completing the application.

Presented by: James Newberry BOCPO, Interim Executive Director, Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Strategies for Success in CARF DMEPOS Accreditation

Attend this session and learn about requirements for CARF accreditation; preparing for survey and assistance offered for success; trends from initial CARF DMEPOS surveys and what you can learn from these experiences.

Presented by: Christine M. MacDonell, Managing Director, Medical Rehabilitation and International Aging Services/Medical Rehabilitation, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

2:30 pm — 3:30 pm
HQAA Today

A complete demonstration of how the Web-based HQAA process works will be given as well as helpful hints as to how to maximize the utilization of the HQAA system. An update as to CMS expectations of accredited companies will be given and a description of how HQAA will approach those expectations electronically will be shared.

Presented by: Mary Nicholas, Executive Director, Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation

Wednesday, October 3
10:30 am — 11:30 am
Accreditation Simplified

Understand the process of receiving accreditation from one of the companies that is recognized by CMS for deeming authority.

Presented by: Timothy Safley, HME Clinical Advisor, Accreditation Commission for Health Care

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Standards-Oriented Best Practices for DMEPOS Providers

As organizations prepare for and maintain accreditation, there is a primary focus on standards compliance. As a DMEPOS owner you’re likely asking, “What is the benefit of this critical piece of the overall accreditation process?” This interactive discussion will reveal select “best practices” developed by Joint Commission-accredited DMEPOS organizations in meeting the standards that resulted in improved patient care and overall business practices.

Presented by Bob Floro, RRT, Program Director, Joint Commission

3:00 pm — 4:00 pm
Accreditation Accelerated

Today, thousands of hard-pressed DMEPOS providers are faced with the real possibility of losing their Medicare eligibility if they are not accredited before the National Competitive Bidding deadline is reached in their MSA. This session will explain how The Compliance Team has established an accelerated implementation cycle that is designed to help providers, who are affected by these NCB deadlines, achieve accreditation in as little time as six to eight weeks.

Presented by: Sandra Canally, President, The Compliance Team, Inc.

Thursday, October 4
11:00 am — 12:00 pm
CHAP Cares – Your Portal to Accreditation & Quality

This session will introduce participants to the use of the CHAP Web-based portal and automated site visit interactive system to facilitate quality outcomes with the CHAP accreditation process. The participants will learn how CHAP has integrated the CMS Quality Standards into the CHAP standards and accreditation process and how CHAP plans to use the findings from site visits conducted in 2007 under the integrated standards to help participants achieve compliance.

Presented by: Gwen M. Franzgrote, MA, RRT, Director of HME Services, CHAP

1:00 pm — 2:00 pm
ABC Accreditation: The Solution for Medicare Providers of O&P and DME Services

This session will teach business owners the ins and outs of Medicare’s new regulation and introduce attendees to ABC’s CMS-approved accreditation programs for O&P and DME suppliers. An affordable option for business owners, ABC’s accreditation standards incorporate aspects of patient safety, quality care outcomes and measures of organizational progress.

Presented by Scott Williamson, CAE and Tom Derrick, American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics