New accreditation cycle raises costs, burdens

YARMOUTH, Maine – Home medical equipment (HME) providers who are preparing for resurvey and reaccreditation say the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) move to an annual requirement adds significant administrative burden with little perceived benefit.

Providers push back on annual requirement

As part of its final rule on the competitive bidding program, CMS began requiring all providers to undergo annual reaccreditation starting Jan. 1, 2026 – a shift from the previous three-year cycle.

Providers say the change increases costs and staff time without improving program integrity.

“We’re getting ready for it, but it is time consuming and costly,” said Craig Rae, president of Penrod Medical Equipment in Salisbury, N.C. “It adds no value whatsoever and does nothing to address waste, fraud and abuse.”

The agency is providing a transition period where most providers may retain their current multi-year accreditation until it expires.

‘Throwing the baby out with the bathwater’

Some providers question whether the one-size-fits-all approach of the change is appropriate, particularly for smaller, independent businesses with established compliance track records.

Jason Jones, president of Jones Medical Supply in Troy, Ala., is currently in the two-month window awaiting his survey.

“The annual requirement is throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” he said. “(All the fraud efforts) appear to be aimed at international companies and not independents like us, yet you're going to enforce the same rule on everybody. It serves zero purpose for people like us who have proven to do things right.”

Accreditation changes add complexity

Others say the reaccreditation process itself has become more complex, even before factoring in the new frequency. Of note: When CMS overhauled the accreditation process, the agency reinforced mandatory, 100% compliance with all standards at the time of the onsite survey.

Chris Collins, general manager of Collins Medical Solutions in Bridgeport, Conn., said his company recently completed its resurvey and encountered significantly updated standards.

“The changes were through the roof this year,” he said. “When we initially saw all the updates to the review and the qualifications, it was very daunting. But, ultimately, it confirmed that we are running a smooth operation – as are most HMEs that are surviving today.”

Collins added that support from accrediting organizations helped ease the transition.

‘You have to live it’

Despite their frustrations, providers acknowledge that compliance is an ongoing process – not something that can be addressed just ahead of a survey, whether it’s required annually or every three years.

“Most businesses just have to live it,” said Rae. “It’s not something you can ignore and then pick up at the last minute every three years. You have to do it all the time – you have to do it consistently.”