Reports have come out about home medical equipment (HME) providers that are falling short in their resurveys under a new Medicare rule that started this year - one that requires 100% compliance on all standards.
The worst case scenario here? HME News states that “providers who fail to meet the standard risk a lapse in accreditation followed by a temporary revocation of their provider transaction access number (PTAN).”
Craig Douglas, CEO and executive director of HQAA, suggests that providers allocate additional time into resurvey planning to avoid this possibility.
He states: “There are always going to be some deficiencies, right, and all of that needs to be corrected. So, having to meet 100% compliance makes the process potentially go longer.”
Accrediting Organizations Are Also Facing Increased Pressure
Providers are not the only ones feeling increased pressure. Accrediting organizations (AOs) are undergoing revalidation processes as well, in order to maintain their status with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
With an application deadline of May 1, CMS provided itself 210 days from that date to review applications and return determinations.
Why Is Accreditation Increasingly Rigid?
CMS has stated that the accreditation changes are part of their broader effort to reduce fraud and abuse in the DME/ HME space.
Douglas, quoted earlier, suggests the changes may also involve a reclaiming of control over the accreditation process. He states: “I look at accreditation as their thing and they’ve outsourced it to AO. They have the ultimate say in how it looks and how we do it on their behalf. While AOs certainly have some say in how their respective programs are structured, CMS still makes and enforce the rules.”
How Can DMEs/ HMEs Respond & Prepare?
- Don't wait until your accreditation expires to begin preparing for resurvey.
- Aim for 100% compliance - not "good enough." Under the new rules, every accreditation standard must be met.
- Conduct internal mock audits. Review policies, documentation, staff training records, state licensure, and operational workflows before your accrediting organization arrives to identify issues early.
- Strengthen compliance documentation. Make sure employee training, equipment maintenance, patient records, quality improvement activities, and licensure documentation are complete, organized, and readily accessible during surveys.
- Reduce manual errors with automation. Automated documentation, workflow tracking, and audit trails can help maintain ongoing compliance and make it easier to demonstrate adherence during accreditation surveys.
- Finally, if you missed it, VGM & Associates and the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) published a well-timed accreditation guide! Grab that resource today.
