The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a June 12 final rule on accrediting organization (AO) oversight and conflicts of interest that establishes consistent standards for accreditation of Medicare-participating providers and suppliers. This rule finalizes provisions the CMS had proposed in a February 2024 rule [refer to Washington Highlights, Feb. 16, 2024].
In the rule, the CMS aligns AO standards with those of state survey agencies by standardizing survey processes and staff training requirements. The rule finalizes a requirement that surveys of health care providers be unannounced. Additionally, the rule implements safeguards to prevent AO conflicts of interest, including prohibiting providers from receiving fee-based consulting services from an AO that also accredits the provider. Finally, the agency will phase out look-back validation surveys performed by state survey agencies and replace them with direct observation surveys, which occur at the same time as the AO survey. In comments submitted on the 2024 proposed rule, the AAMC had supported the phase-out of look-back validation surveys, which are burdensome for providers and disrupt patient care, and recommended the CMS use direct observation surveys instead [refer to Washington Highlights, April 19, 2024]. The rule takes effect on June 16, 2027.
- Washington Highlights