I attended a conference call last week, conducted by the CMS staff, relating to Facility Accreditation
"Changes and Revisions" of the DMEPOS Quality Standards. Prior to attending the conference call, I received an email alert on August 21, 2008 relating to the open door forum conference call, which included a new subparagraph that was added and would be discussed during the call. Here is the new subparagraph that was added to MIPPA section 154(b)subparagraph(F):
Background:
MIPPA section 154(b) added a new subparagraph (F). This subparagraph states that eligible professionals and other persons are exempt from meeting the September 30, 2009 accreditation deadline until CMS determines that the quality standards are specifically designed to apply to such professionals and other persons. MIPPA also states that CMS may exempt such professionals and persons from the quality standards based on their licensing, accreditation or other mandatory quality requirements that may apply.
Needless to say, after the conference call had ended, there were A LOT of happy providers, and A LOT of angry providers!
Why? (There’s that question again) The reason some were happy is that the NON DME providers are now “Exempt” from the previous mandated Facility Accreditation, with the appropriate Licensing and/or Certification indicating companies have qualified professionals on staff to provide these services.
The reason DMEPOS providers are angry is that so many providers went to extreme measures to get their practice in tip top shape to pass the Accreditation process, and receive Accreditation Certification, in order to maintain their Medicare Supplier Billing Number, to bill Medicare. Many have gone through the lengthy process and paid THOUSANDS of dollars to prepare for inspection. Others have paid the hefty accreditation application fees and now wonder if they should proceed and follow through, or count it a loss and say “forget it, cancel my application.”
With that being said, many may ask the question…Was it worth it to get Facility Accreditation, or proceeding with the process, for your business? You bet it was and is! Furthermore, I would personally recommend that you not only get it, but you keep it current when renewal comes around again.
The fact is…during the conference call, CMS staff indicated that CMS is changing administration within the next six (6) months, and undergoing a New Rule Making process right now, to identify and change the DMEPOS quality standards, to determine and specify things like…”what qualifies a DMEPOS supplier from Facility Accreditation Exemption”. The revised quality standards are supposed to be completed in early 2009, and then placed for public comments for a period of at least 45 days, before the final draft is complete. So, by September 30, 2009 the revised Quality Standards and new standards ruling for DMEPOS providers should be complete and set in place.
CMS staff also indicated that the revised quality standards may be broken down into categories of professionals, dispensing products and who is qualified to fit and deliver these products.
I could go on and on about this, but I will stop for now. I do believe that smart business people will keep their facility accreditation current, and that all other DMEPOS providers keep going through the process to get it.
The reason I say this is because CMS can come back at any time and make another change, demanding it once again, then you may be one scurrying through the process all over again...ultimately, leading to major frustration! Furthermore, Accreditation and Quality Assurance Programs ADD value to your, or any practice.
In my opinion, Facility Accreditation is a no brainer…a smart move to protect you and your business!