HME Accreditation, like other types of accreditation, is a voluntary review and certification of a level of standard within an organization that meets the predetermined standards of that company, the government and the industry it represents.

There are currently 10 accrediting agencies that have been approved by CMS. Please visit the "Accreditation Agencies" page on this website that lists all 10 CMS approved accreditation agencies. Each organization will share with you their standards and accreditation process.

The cost for accreditation is most often based on the size of the organization. If an organization has more than one branch, there are additional charges for each office. Most agencies charge a minimum fee and then review each organization and their structure.

Generally speaking, the process of preparation for Accreditation takes from 3 to 6 months. An organization must implement their policies and procedures and then compile data from their performance management program and patient records.

Most business owners who have completed the accreditation process are pleased with the positive changes in their organization and can point to many areas of efficiency with cost savings.

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 included language that requires HME organizations to be accredited. HME companies in the first 10 MSAs will be required to be accredited by year end 2007. HME companies in the other MSAs will be required to achieve accreditation in a scheduled MSA rollout that will span from 2008 to 2010. The scheduled MSA rollout for accreditation is yet to be announced by CMS. It is also important to understand that currently there are a number of payers who already require accreditation in order to participate with them.

HME Accreditation is a method to establish with others that your business has adopted the highest standards and are in compliance with all regulatory bodies in the industry.

Having policies and procedures to follow, a structure for your business and an understanding that it will be reviewed every 3 years, helps and encourages business owners to maintain high standards in all areas of their business.

A referral source wants the assurance that the company they recommend to their clients is reputable and of high quality. Accreditation is a standard that is universally known and will help to build trust in an organization's quality.

Payers want to be assured that the companies they do business with are reputable and provide the best services and equipment possible. Requiring accreditation is an excellent tool to use in measuring a company's quality.

Patients are probably the biggest benefactors of accreditation as they receive standardized, measurable care that is of a high quality.

In recent years, the government has been plagued by fraud in the HME industry. Accreditation is just one of the methods that the government can use to monitor the integrity of HME organizations.

After your initial survey process, most agencies re-certify every 3 years. However, be aware that accrediting organizations do unannounced surveys in the interim.

Most accrediting agencies use qualified clinicians in your areas of expertise to perform the surveys. The surveyors are trained and able to offer training as well as surveying.

The standards for Accreditation of an HME business include every area of the business. There are standards that are applied to each area according to the policies and procedures you have in place for your business.