The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) has been awarded ‘Deemed Status’ as an accrediting organization for suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment Orthotics, Prosthetics and Supplies (DMEPOS). With this important announcement, CMS is validating ABC’s accreditation program and establishing ABC accreditation as an approved prerequisite for suppliers of prosthetics, orthotics and pedorthics.
As required in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, CMS is implementing new standards of patient care and fraud protection over the entire DMEPOS market. Requiring all suppliers to submit to mandatory facility accreditation is a central part of these new standards, and CMS is relying on non-governmental accrediting organizations, such as ABC, to evaluate all locations of patient care against established Medicare Quality Standards.
“This is great news for ABC, our profession, and our patients,” stated ABC President Jeffrey Yakovich, CO. “As a deemed authority, our accreditation program will now be the key resource for all O&P patient care facilities. CMS has mandated accreditation for all providers, which is going to lead to profound changes in our profession. All facilities are going to have to meet objective performance standards, and those O&P patient care sites that cannot meet ABC accreditation standards could lose their ability to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries.
“With the awarding of deemed status, ABC Accreditation will continue to be the preferred choice in accreditation for the O&P profession. Our accreditation program has been in place since 1948 and over 1,400 facilities abide by ABC accreditation standards. The consultative and affordable approach advocated by the Board of Directors will allow all facilities the opportunity to achieve accreditation, regardless of size or geographic location.”
ABC’s accreditation program will be undergoing changes in the coming months as we work to integrate all of the new CMS Quality Standards.
One of the first changes will be a modification of the survey process. To comply with CMS regulations, all accreditation surveys must be unannounced, in contrast to scheduled surveys. The intent of this CMS mandated change is to ensure that facilities maintain high standards on an everyday basis. Current ABC accredited facilities will be receiving further information on this process change.
Second, a new Supplier Compliance section has been added to the existing ABC accreditation standards. This is a requirement of the CMS Quality Standards and helps ensure that those responsible for billing CMS are qualified to do so.
ABC is prepared for a substantial increases in the number of facilities applying for ABC accreditation. Owners and practice managers are encouraged to begin familiarizing themselves with the ABC standards immediately in preparations for their application for accreditation.
ABC’s Accreditation Guide and application are available by contacting ABC at accreditation@abcop.org., visiting www.abcop.org or calling 703-836-7114, ext. 230. The CMS Quality Standards can be viewed in the new Medicare Learning Network section of www.oandpcare.org/MLN.