Popovich Relinquishes Joint Commission Reins

CHICAGO–Maryanne Popovich, long-time executive director of home
care accreditation for The Joint Commission, retired Friday,
ironically just as the HME industry is on the cusp of mandatory
accreditation.

On Friday, in fact, some industry stakeholders caught a glimpse
of what might well be the first 10 cities in CMS’ competitive
bidding project (see top story), where providers will be required
to be accredited by a CMS-approved accrediting body in order to
bid. Mandatory accreditation of all providers will follow at some
point, although CMS has not yet set the effective date for
that.

Popovich, who has held her position for 14 years, said she is
looking forward to moving back to her home state of Pennsylvania,
spending time with her family and nurturing her penchant for
traveling and museums.

“Who knows, I may even take an art class,” she said.

The former nurse, who has been with The Joint Commission since
its inception in 1988 when she started out as a surveyor in the
home health division, said she will stay on in a part-time capacity
during the transition as a new executive director is named.

Gina Zimmermann, senior executive director of business
development for the agency, said the organization hopes to have a
replacement for Popovich within two to three months. The new
executive director will immediately need to grapple with the
mandatory accreditation issue for HME providers.

Already, Zimmermann said, “we are seeing a steep increase in
interest; that’s actually across all segments in the areas that we
accredit–even in home health without [durable medical equipment]
and hospice, too.”

Looking back on her years with The Joint Commission, Popovich
said, one of her proudest moments was “that we were the first to
accredit HME.”

Popovich, who is a member of the Program Advisory and Oversight
Committee, formed to advise CMS on competitive bidding, said she
had no idea when she made the decision to retire that The Joint
Commission, like other industry stakeholders, would still be
waiting for the final rule on competitive bidding.

“We thought it was going to come out last fall,” she said.
Still, she feels the time is right to retire. The Joint Commission,
which recently shortened its name (from JCAHO), is well-positioned
to deal with the changes coming down in the industries it covers,
she said.

But Popovich believes the HME industry will experience some
tough times, and said she harbors some concerns about competitive
bidding. “I am speechless as to whether it is going to be good or
it is going to be bad,” she said. “It has the potential to be of
benefit. But I have no idea, even as a member of the Program
advisory board, how they are going to roll out the products, the
rules, how they are going to administer the bids coming in.

“I want the organizations to bid realistically and read the
rules,” she continued. “They are not going to benefit anyone by
going low. But I am more concerned … about who is going to be
allowed to service [the equipment]. I am very concerned that we are
not going to have enough providers for people to access this
service … I’m worried about the whole process.”

Still, she thinks the industry could be on the brink of some of
its best times, largely because of the mandatory accreditation
provision. “Despite the uncertainties, I think if the industry can
just hold tight and look beyond to two or three years, it is going
to be in much better shape,” Popovich said. “I absolutely am aware
of the reimbursement issues … but I think the industry has the
best opportunity I’ve seen in all my years to [establish itself] as
a credible service segment.

“Once the credibility has been established, the value of the
service and the reimbursement will flow from there.”