The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) established a strategic partnership in response to the restrictions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) placed on BOC for new accreditation and reaccredited services in California, Florida, New York, and Texas.
In May, CMS suspended BOC from accrediting and reaccrediting durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers for three years in the four states.
The collaboration is designed to help facilitate a smooth transition for affected organizations. Under the partnership, ACHC will provide accreditation services for BOC’s DMEPOS customers in the four states currently impacted, many of whom face upcoming reaccreditation deadlines. ACHC has a long-standing history of helping organizations maintain compliance and continuity as they transition between accrediting bodies. A dedicated team, led by Aimee Pope, ACHC customer experience manager, is assisting BOC-accredited organizations with account setup and onboarding to facilitate the application and survey process.
“While BOC remains a CMS-approved accreditation organization in good standing in all states, this situation is unprecedented, and BOC is committed to prioritizing the needs of our customers and their patients. We are partnering with ACHC to help avoid gaps in accreditation,” said Judi Knott, BOC president and CEO. “Our top priority is ensuring DMEPOS providers receive the support they need to continue serving patients without disruption. We appreciate the flexibility, partnership and commitment ACHC has demonstrated.”
ACHC is actively working with providers to expedite application processing and survey preparation. While a lapse in accreditation may be unavoidable for some providers, ACHC is focused on minimizing any disruptions throughout the transition.
“ACHC is known for excellence in customer service and a supportive approach to accreditation. We take pride in our ability to step in to assist BOC at this critical time,” said José Domingos, ACHC president and CEO. “Our goal is to help these suppliers maintain their commitment to quality and patient care as they navigate an alternate accreditation process.”
ACHC will offer educational tools, standards crosswalks, and one-on-one guidance to help organizations adapt quickly. The partnership embodies a shared mission to uphold compliance, protect Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) status, and support the delivery of DMEPOS items across the healthcare landscape.
For more information, BOC-accredited providers should contact Aimee Pope at apope@achc.org or 919-651-9767.
