How does accreditation
differ from licensure and certification?
Licensure is offered state by state. Officially there are 22 states with some sort of DME licensure laws, but really, within these 22, only about 10 have what you would call real licensure requirements that are specific to this business and require a site visit by a state inspector. The other states have requirements for things like occupancy permits, mattress re-use licenses and the like. Certification is awarded generally to an individual, such as a Certified Case Manager, who has passed a national competency exam, or one who receives a certification in a specialty. There is a DME Driver Certification Program in the industry as well as certification in billing expertise and others.
Accreditation is a program your entire organization complies with. It has been voluntary, but is soon to become required starting this year.
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Is accreditation mandatory for providers who wish to participation in competitive bidding?
Yes, only appropriately accredited providers will be eligible to bid.
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Among HME providers,
what is the biggest misconception about accreditation?
The first is that you complete an application, mail in your check, and receive some kind of accreditation certificate. The second is that it is a waste of time. I've never met a provider who didn't state that accreditation helped improve their business and that they were proud of the accomplishment.
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What should an HME
provider look for in an accreditation organization?
CMS has selected 10 Deemed Status Providers for accreditation. They are:
As you review these programs, look for the program that works best for your organization. If your referral sources or the networks you participate in require a particular accreditation program, then your choice has already been made. If not, visit booths at MedTrade, look at the standards, call the offices and talk to the staff, ask them your questions and talk to providers who are accredited by them. Your best bet is to work with the organization you feel the most comfortable with.
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