Tag: Accreditation
In brief: AO oversight finalized, Medicaid oversight tightened, scam campaign launched
June 19, 2026HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has published a rule finalizing enhanced oversight of accrediting organizations (AOs).
The agency says the rule, “Strengthening Oversight of AO and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest,” ensures that the organizations responsible for the oversight of more than 9,000 health care providers and suppliers use Medicare standards, and creates greater consistency between State Survey Agencies (SAs) and AOs in their survey processes.
“The...
CMS finalizes plans to increase oversight of AOs
June 18, 2026HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has published a rule finalizing enhanced oversight of accrediting organizations (AOs).
The agency says the rule, “Strengthening Oversight of AO and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest,” ensures that the organizations responsible for the oversight of more than 9,000 health care providers and suppliers use Medicare standards, and creates greater consistency between State Survey Agencies (SAs) and AOs in their survey processes.
“The...
VGM guide provides clear path to accreditation readiness
June 15, 2026HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has released a comprehensive accreditation guide, a practical, all-in-one resource designed to help VGM members streamline accreditation preparation and build a more consistent, repeatable approach to compliance. Developed in partnership with the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA), the guide provides step-by-step guidance across the full accreditation cycle – from pre-survey preparation to accreditation day and post-visit corrections...
New accreditation cycle raises costs, burdens
June 5, 2026Theresa Flaherty
YARMOUTH, Maine – Home medical equipment (HME) providers who are preparing for resurvey and reaccreditation say CMS's 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...
Accreditation: Moving forward during the moratorium
April 13, 2026Sandra Canally
Q. What are alternative revenue paths for new providers?
A. If you were planning to launch a DMEPOS business this year, the new CMS moratorium may feel like a door slamming in your face. On February 27, 2026, the agency initiated a six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollment and Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) issuance for DMEPOS suppliers.
But Medicare isn’t the only doorway to revenue for your new business. You can still get accredited by a CMS-approved accreditation...
Accreditation: Accreditation yesterday doesn't ensure reaccreditation today
March 16, 2026Sandra Canally
Q. What are the top deficiencies among reaccrediting providers?
A. If you’ve been an accredited DMEPOS provider for years, you’ve probably grown accustomed to a certain reaccreditation process. But Jan. 1, 2026, changed the rules – for everyone.
Under the CMS final rule, 100% compliance is required on all standards. What may have not been a deficiency last accreditation period, may be cause for denial or revocation this time around.
We’ve identified the top deficiencies...
Accreditation: Prevent avoidable denials
February 17, 2026Sandra Canally
Q. How can I protect my business accreditation from being denied or revoked in the new era of 100% compliance?
A. When CMS overhauled the DMEPOS accreditation process, the agency reinforced the mandatory 100% compliance with all standards supplied by their accreditation organization (AO). Every standard must be met at the time of your onsite survey. No exceptions. If not, and depending on the infraction, a corrective action plan...
HQAA names new executive director
February 2, 2026HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – The Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) has announced that Executive Director Rhonda Pearce is retiring and will be replaced by Craig Douglas. Pearce joined HQAA in 2005 and has been the organization’s executive director since 2016. During her leadership, she further developed and modernized HQAA’s programs and contributed time and resources to better the surrounding community. “We would like to thank...
ACHC releases white paper on impact of accreditation on care
January 28, 2026HME News Staff
CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has released a new white paper detailing findings from a successful three-year, state-funded pilot program that evaluated the impact of accreditation on adult care homes and assisted living communities in North Carolina. The company says the pilot represents a comprehensive evaluation of accreditation in adult care settings and reinforces that its accreditation helps build safer,...
Accreditation: Get ready for the knock
January 14, 2026Sandra Canally
Q. How can an HME/DME provider best prepare for the new accreditation changes?
A. The DMEPOS/Home Health Final Rule from CMS represents substantial changes in the accreditation process for HME/DME providers who bill through Medicare/Medicaid.
Of those changes, none may be more significant than the switch to annual onsite surveys. While annual surveys are creating the most...