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BROWN & FORTUNATO, P.C. PRESENTS
COMPREHENSIVE ACCREDITATION POLICY MANUAL
Mandatory accreditation for DME suppliers is about to become a reality. Suppliers are going to have a lot to do, and not much time to do it. Choosing the right tools can help smooth the way. Brown & Fortunato's Accreditation Policy Manual will help to expedite and simplify the process of preparing for accreditation.
YOUR WORLD IS CHANGING
BE READY FOR MANDATORY ACCREDITATION
Take steps to prepare for accreditation now!
The Brown & Fortunato Accreditation Policy Manual is a comprehensive policy and procedure manual designed specifically to help DME suppliers and pharmacies fulfill accreditation requirements. The manual includes all the policies and procedures required by the organizations that will accredit DME suppliers. The detailed policies are designed to be easily adaptable for use by companies of all sizes. Our attorneys are available to assist with adaptation if necessary.
 The Accreditation Policy Manual was written by attorneys who represent DME suppliers and pharmacies on legal, regulatory and reimbursement matters on a daily basis. They have the experience to know what works and what doesn’t when seeking accreditation. This manual was designed to save your organization time and money in preparing for the accreditation process. It is an efficient and cost-effective solution for your business. In today’s environment of Medicare cuts, it is imperative that a business stay efficient and focused on patient care in order to remain competitive. The Accreditation Policy Manual can help to reduce the time you spend on the details of the accreditation process, so that you can devote your time and resources to your business.
WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?
Accreditation is a process in which an independent organization evaluates a health care provider and certifies that the provider meets certain quality standards. The oldest accrediting organization is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), but there are several others, including the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). An accrediting organization’s survey includes an evaluation of the provider’s clinical services, as well as other aspects of the provider’s operations such as administration, personnel management and information management.
WHO SHOULD BECOME ACCREDITED?
Any DME supplier that provides equipment and services to Medicare beneficiaries will have to become accredited to continue receiving payment from Medicare. Pharmacies that dispense any medical equipment, parenteral nutrition and/or transfusion medications must also become accredited.
WHY SHOULD A DME SUPPLIER BECOME ACCREDITED?
Voluntary accreditation has been available to durable medical equipment suppliers for some time, but relatively few suppliers—probably less than 25%—have become accredited. However, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) makes accreditation mandatory for DME suppliers that serve Medicare beneficiaries. The MMA requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish and implement quality standards for DME suppliers, and to designate independent accreditation organizations to apply those standards. Suppliers will be required to comply with the quality standards in order to retain their supplier numbers and receive Medicare payment for DME.
WHEN MUST A DME SUPPLIER BE ACCREDITED?
Mandatory accreditation will be introduced in stages along with the Medicare competitive bidding program for DME. CMS has set a Spring 2007 deadline for accreditation of suppliers in the ten metropolitan areas chosen for the first phase of competitive bidding. Suppliers that are not in the initial competitive bidding areas will have later deadlines, but all suppliers will need to be accredited by 2009. It is critical that those suppliers begin preparation now. The accreditation process is likely to take an average of 9 to 12 months, and longer in some cases. The increased need for accreditation will place a heavy demand on the accrediting organizations. In anticipation of the increased demand, the accrediting bodies have added additional surveyors and are working at maximum capacity. However, the need for these services is likely to exceed the capabilities of the organizations. Suppliers that do not act now risk missing the MMA deadlines and being unable to serve Medicare beneficiaries.
HOW DOES THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS WORK?
A supplier that wishes to become accredited should contact the organizations that accredit DME suppliers and obtain information about each organization’s accreditation process. The supplier should review the information and choose the organization to which it will apply. The company must then review its existing services, practices, and policies and procedures to determine what changes will be required to meet the accreditation standards. It should then develop a plan, including a detailed timeline, for implementing the necessary changes, developing appropriate policies and procedures and training employees. The supplier may apply for accreditation after the changes are in place or during implementation. The supplier submits an application to the accrediting organization with supporting documentation. The accrediting organization reviews the application and documentation and conducts an on-site survey. Based on the submitted data and the results of the survey, the organization will determine whether to accredit the supplier.
THE COMPREHENSIVE
ACCREDITATION POLICY MANUAL
The purchase price of $1,995 includes:
- Policy & Procedure Guide
*Includes all required policies in Microsoft Word format on one easy-to-use CD
- 1 YEAR of free updates
if policy changes are necessary
- 50% off first $2,000 in accreditation related legal services requested within 6 months of purchase
The Brown & Fortunato Accreditation Policy Manual is a reliable tool to take you through the accreditation process and to make the transition as smooth as possible. Brown & Fortunato also offers phone or in-person consulting with an experienced attorney to help you navigate and prepare for the accreditation process.
WHY IS BROWN & FORTUNATO THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOU?
 Brown & Fortunato’s Health Care Group has a large national health care practice with clients throughout the United States. The Health Care Group represents durable medical equipment companies, pharmacies, drug wholesalers and repackagers, long term care facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, physicians and other health care providers. The Health Care Group includes six Board-Certified attorneys who collectively have over 80 years experience in representing health care clients. This wealth of legal experience and expertise has helped to make the Accreditation Policy Manual the best choice for DME suppliers preparing for accreditation.
The timeline for compliance is short. Don’t risk losing your supplier number due to lack of time or lack of information.
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