Notice2022-08251
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From Det Norske Veritas for Continued Approval of Its Hospital Accreditation Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 18, 2022
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Abstract
This notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from Det Norske Veritas for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 74 (Monday, April 18, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22894-22895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08251]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3424-PN]
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From Det Norske
Veritas for Continued Approval of Its Hospital Accreditation Program
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from
Det Norske Veritas for continued recognition as a national accrediting
organization for hospitals that wish to participate in the Medicare or
Medicaid programs.
DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of
the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on May 18, 2022.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3424-PN.
Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
Comments, including mass comment submissions, must be submitted in
one of the following three ways (please choose only one of the ways
listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this
regulation to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the ``submit a
comment'' instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3424-PN, P.O. Box 8016,
Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received
before the close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to
the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3424-PN, Mail
Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy Webb, (410) 786-1667. Lillian
William, (410) 786-8636.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the
close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public,
including any personally identifiable or confidential business
information that is included in a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the comment period on the following
website as soon as possible after they have been received: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the search instructions on that website to
view public comments. CMS will not post on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> public
comments that make threats to individuals or institutions or suggest
that the individual will take actions to harm the individual. CMS
continues to encourage individuals not to submit duplicative comments.
We will post acceptable comments from multiple unique commenters even
if the content is identical or nearly identical to other comments.
I. Background
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive
covered services from a hospital provided certain requirements are met.
Section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act (the Act), establishes
distinct criteria for facilities seeking designation as a hospital.
Regulations concerning provider agreements are at 42 CFR part 489 and
those pertaining to activities relating to the survey and certification
of facilities are at 42 CFR part 488. The regulations at 42 CFR part
482 specify the minimum conditions that a hospital must meet to
participate in the Medicare program.
Generally, to enter into an agreement, a hospital must first be
certified by a state survey agency (SA) as complying with the
conditions or requirements set forth in part 482 of our regulations.
Thereafter, the hospital is subject to regular surveys by a SA to
determine whether it continues to meet these requirements.
Section 1865(a)(1) of the Act provides that, if a provider entity
demonstrates through accreditation by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) approved national accrediting organization (AO) that all
applicable Medicare conditions are met or exceeded, we will deem those
provider entities as having met the requirements. Accreditation by an
AO is voluntary and is not required for Medicare participation.
If an AO is recognized by the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services (the Secretary) as having standards for
accreditation that meet or exceed Medicare requirements, any provider
entity accredited by the national accrediting body's approved program
would be deemed to meet the Medicare conditions. A national AO applying
for approval of its accreditation program under part 488, subpart A,
must provide CMS with reasonable assurance that the AO requires the
accredited provider entities to meet requirements that are at least as
stringent as the Medicare conditions. Our regulations concerning the
approval of AOs are set forth at Sec. Sec. 488.4 and 488.5. The
regulations at Sec. 488.5(e)(2)(i) require AOs to reapply for
continued approval of its accreditation program every 6 years or sooner
as determined by CMS.
Det Norske Veritas' current term of approval for their hospital
accreditation program expires September 26, 2022.
II. Approval of Deeming Organization
Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at Sec. 488.5
require that our findings concerning review and approval of a national
AO's requirements consider, among other factors, the applying AO's
requirements for accreditation; survey procedures; resources for
conducting required surveys; capacity to furnish information for use in
enforcement activities; monitoring procedures for provider entities
found not in compliance with the conditions or requirements; and
ability to provide CMS with the necessary data for validation.
Section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Act further requires that we publish,
within 60 days of receipt of an organization's complete application, a
notice identifying the national accrediting body making the request,
describing the nature of the request, and providing at least a 30-day
public comment period. We have 210 days from the receipt of a complete
application to publish notice of approval or denial of the application.
The purpose of this proposed notice is to inform the public of Det
Norske Veritas' request for continued approval of its hospital
accreditation program. This notice also solicits public comment on
whether Det Norske Veritas' requirements meet or exceed the Medicare
conditions of participation (CoPs) for hospitals.
III. Evaluation of Deeming Authority Request
Det Norske Veritas submitted all the necessary materials to enable
us to make a determination concerning its request
[[Page 22895]]
for continued approval of its hospital accreditation program. This
application was determined to be complete on February 28, 2022. Under
section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at Sec. 488.5
(Application and re-application procedures for national accrediting
organizations), our review and evaluation of Det Norske Veritas will be
conducted in accordance with, but not necessarily limited to, the
following factors:
<bullet> The equivalency of Det Norske Veritas' standards for
hospitals as compared with CMS' hospital CoPs.
<bullet> Det Norske Veritas' survey process to determine the
following:
++ The composition of the survey team, surveyor qualifications, and
the ability of the organization to provide continuing surveyor
training.
++ The comparability of Det Norske Veritas' processes to those of
state agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to
investigate and respond appropriately to complaints against accredited
facilities.
++ Det Norske Veritas' processes and procedures for monitoring a
hospital found out of compliance with Det Norske Veritas' program
requirements. These monitoring procedures are used only when Det Norske
Veritas identifies noncompliance. If noncompliance is identified
through validation reviews or complaint surveys, the SA monitors
corrections as specified at Sec. 488.9.
++ Det Norske Veritas' capacity to report deficiencies to the
surveyed facilities and respond to the facility's plan of correction in
a timely manner.
++ Det Norske Veritas' capacity to provide CMS with electronic data
and reports necessary for effective validation and assessment of the
organization's survey process.
++ The adequacy of Det Norske Veritas' staff and other resources,
and its financial viability.
++ Det Norske Veritas' capacity to adequately fund required
surveys.
++ Det Norske Veritas' policies with respect to whether surveys are
announced or unannounced, to assure that surveys are unannounced.
++ Det Norske Veritas' policies and procedures to avoid conflicts
of interest, including the appearance of conflicts of interest,
involving individuals who conduct surveys or participate in
accreditation decisions.
++ Det Norske Veritas' agreement to provide CMS with a copy of the
most current accreditation survey together with any other information
related to the survey as we may require (including corrective action
plans).
IV. Collection of Information Requirements
This document does not impose information collection requirements,
that is, reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
V. Response to Public Comments
Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive
on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or
respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive
by the date and time specified in the DATES section of this preamble,
and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the
comments in the preamble to that document.
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this
document, authorizes Lynette Wilson, who is the Federal Register
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of
publication in the Federal Register.
Dated: April 13, 2022.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2022-08251 Filed 4-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 18, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.