The Joint Commission is deemed by CMS as an approved accreditor for ASCs seeking Medicare certification.
Michael Kulczycki, executive director of The Joint Commission's ambulatory care accreditation program, discussed deemed status for ASCs during a podcast.
Here are four takeaways.
1. The Joint Commission can provide accreditation and Medicare certification simultaneously through its survey process.
2. Obtaining deemed status through The Joint Commission prevents facilities from needing to undergo duplicate surveys because The Joint Commission's survey process incorporates Medicare standards.
3. The Joint Commission can provide a "more consultative and educational survey experience" than Medicare certification surveys conducted by state agencies, Mr. Kulczycki said.
4. Facilities preparing for a survey can consult The Joint Commission's survey activity guide, which outlines the components of a two- to four-day survey agenda. It details what documents should be ready when surveyors arrive and which staff members should participate in each part of the process.