CMS Approves DME Accreditors

Baltimore

In late November, CMS announced the names of 11 “deemed” accrediting organizations approved to accredit DMEPOS providers who want to work in the Medicare program:

• The Joint Commission(JCAHO)
• Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP)
• Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA)
• National Board of Accreditation for Orthotic Suppliers
• Board of Certification in Pedorthics
• Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
• Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC)
• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC of O&P)
• The Compliance Team

To gain approval, all of the organizations had to mesh their standards with CMS’ mandatory supplier quality standards, issued in August 2006.

Most of the organizations are authorized to accredit all types of providers, and most will be able to accredit both national and local providers, as well as mail order companies.

For contact information and details of what each organization is approved to accredit, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS.