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1992.05.29 :  Medicare Home Health Agencies

Contact: Bob Hardy (202) 245-6145
May 29, 1992
       
HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., announced today that
home health agencies approved by the Community Health Accreditation
Program will be recognized as meeting the requirements for
participation in the Medicare program.
       This recognition, known as "deemed status," will allow home
care organizations accredited by CHAP the opportunity to
participate in the Medicare program. Of the nearly 6,000 home
health agencies that serve Medicare beneficiaries, CHAP has
accredited 250 agencies and branches.
       "CHAP's standards meet the requirements of the Medicare
program to assure a high quality of care for beneficiaries,"  said
Dr. Sullivan.
       To participate in the Medicare program, providers of health
care services must initially be certified by a state survey agency
as complying with federal law. State authorities then conduct
periodic surveys to determine compliance with Medicare standards,
except when the approval of an accrediting organization is
recognized by law as assuring compliance.
       The recognition of CHAP accreditation for home health
agencies means they will not be subject to the routine inspections
by state survey agencies.

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        William Toby Jr., acting administrator of the federal
Health Care Financing Administration, said that CHAP "must release
reports of its surveys of home health agencies to HCFA on a routine
basis and release reports to the public upon request. 
       "If the CHAP survey reports reveal deficiencies, HCFA may
survey the identified provider and require corrective measures or
withdraw deemed status," Toby said.
       HCFA will perform announced and unannounced validation and
complaint surveys to assure Medicare conditions are maintained.  
       Before CHAP was approved as the accrediting organization,
its standards were compared to relevant Medicare requirements. 
After reviewing CHAP's accreditation program, HCFA determined that
Medicare conditions and survey requirements were met by CHAP.
Recognition of CHAP accreditation is complete with publication of
a notice in today's Federal Register.
       CHAP-accredited home health agencies will be granted deemed
status beginning 90 days after publication of the final notice in
the Federal Register. 

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