ASQ Supports New Options for Accrediting Hospitals to Participate in Medicare

Milwaukee, May 27, 2008 — ASQ responded to a request by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for comments on an application to use an ISO 9001-based platform as the basis for accrediting hospitals for participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Det Norsk Veritas Healthcare, Inc. (DNV) submitted the application to be granted deeming authority for hospitals. Deeming authority means that once an accrediting organization (DNV in this case) is recognized by the CMS as having standards for accreditation that meet or exceed Medicare requirements, any provider entity (i.e., hospital) accredited by that accrediting body’s approved program would be deemed to meet the conditions required for participation in Medicare. If this application is approved, DNV would become the first approved national Medicare accrediting body whose accreditation process incorporates an ISO 9001 platform.

“ASQ is not endorsing a specific body, but rather the concept that independent bodies that incorporate recognized quality management systems should be permitted to have a role in the Medicare accrediting process,” stated ASQ President Mike Nichols. “We believe it is important for hospitals to have that accreditation option in addition to those that currently exist.”

Hospitals must first be certified by a state survey agency as complying with conditions or requirements set forth by CMS. They are subsequently subject to surveys by the state agencies or national accrediting organizations to assure that all Medicare conditions are met or exceeded. Currently, the Joint Commission is the only accrediting body having deeming authority for Medicare participation.

ASQ’s comment also pointed out that international requirements to which DNV must conform specify that activities of DNV Healthcare, Inc., and its parent, DNV Certification, must be maintained as separate activities — marketed and managed separately.

*** NOTE: Since this story was first published, ASQ has learned that the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) of the American Osteopathic Association is also granted deeming authority.

Content updated June 30, 2008