Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality for Continued Approval of Its Hospital Accreditation Program, 11579-11580 [2017-03556]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 36 / Friday, February 24, 2017 / Notices
Prevention and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
Elaine L. Baker,
Director, Management Analysis and Services
Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017–03629 Filed 2–23–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–3338–PN]
Medicare and Medicaid Programs:
Application From the Center for
Improvement in Healthcare Quality for
Continued Approval of Its Hospital
Accreditation Program
Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Proposed notice.
AGENCY:
This proposed notice
acknowledges the receipt of an
application from the Center for
Improvement in Healthcare Quality
(CIHQ) 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 March 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer
to file code CMS–3338–PN. Because of
staff and resource limitations, we cannot
accept comments by facsimile (FAX)
transmission.
You may submit comments in one of
four ways:
1. Electronically. You may submit
electronic comments on specific issues
in this regulation to https://
www.regulations.gov . Follow the
‘‘submit a comment’’ instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments (one original and two
copies) to the following address only:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services, Attention: CMS–3338–
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–3338–PN,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:20 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 241001
Mail Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
4. By hand or courier. Alternatively,
you may deliver (by hand or courier)
your written comments to the following
addresses:
a. For delivery in Washington, DC—
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services, Room 445–G, Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20201.
(Because access to the interior of the
Hubert H. Humphrey Building is not
readily available to persons without
Federal government identification,
commenters are encouraged to leave
their comments in the CMS drop slots
located in the main lobby of the
building. A stamp-in clock is available
for persons wishing to retain a proof of
filing by stamping in and retaining an
extra copy of the comments being filed.)
Comments erroneously mailed to the
addresses indicated as appropriate for
hand or courier delivery may be delayed
and received after the comment period.
b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD—
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
If you intend to deliver your
comments to the Baltimore address, call
telephone number (410) 786–9994 in
advance to schedule your arrival with
one of our staff members.
For information on viewing public
comments, see the beginning of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lillian Williams, (410) 786–8636,
Patricia Chmielewski, (410) 786–6899,
or Monda Shaver, (410) 786–3410.
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 Web
site as soon as possible after they have
been received: https://
www.regulations.gov . Follow the search
instructions on that Web site to view
public comments.
Comments received timely will also
be available for public inspection as
they are received, generally beginning
approximately 3 weeks after publication
of a document, at the headquarters of
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11579
through Friday of each week from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an
appointment to view public comments,
phone 1–800–743–3951.
I. Background
Under the Medicare program, eligible
beneficiaries may receive covered
services from a hospital, provided that
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 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 State survey agency
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 an approved
national accrediting organization that all
applicable Medicare conditions are met
or exceeded, we may deem those
provider entities as having met the
requirements. Accreditation by an
accrediting organization is voluntary
and is not required for Medicare
participation.
If an accrediting organization 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 may be deemed to meet the
Medicare conditions. A national
accrediting organization applying for
approval of its accreditation program
under part 488, subpart A, must provide
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) with reasonable
assurance that the accrediting
organization requires the accredited
provider entities to meet requirements
that are at least as stringent as the
Medicare conditions. Our regulations
concerning the approval of accrediting
organizations are set forth at § 488.5.
The regulations at § 488.5(e)(2)(i)
require accrediting organizations to
reapply for continued approval of its
accreditation program every 6 years or
sooner as determined by CMS.
E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.SGM
24FEN1
11580
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 36 / Friday, February 24, 2017 / Notices
The Center for Improvement in
Healthcare Quality (CIHQ’s) current
term of approval for their hospital
accreditation program expires July 26,
2017.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Approval of Deeming Organizations
Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our
regulations at § 488.5 require that our
findings concerning review and
approval of a national accrediting
organization’s requirements consider,
among other factors, the applying
accrediting organization’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 CIHQ’s request
for continued approval of its hospital
accreditation program. This notice also
solicits public comment on whether
CIHQ’s requirements meet or exceed the
Medicare Conditions of Participation
(CoPs) for hospitals.
III. Evaluation of Deeming Authority
Request
CIHQ submitted all the necessary
materials to enable us to make a
determination concerning its request for
continued approval of its hospital
accreditation program. This application
was determined to be complete on
December 28, 2016. Under section
1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations
at § 488.5 (Application and reapplication procedures for national
accrediting organizations), our review
and evaluation of CIHQ’s will be
conducted in accordance with, but not
necessarily limited to, the following
factors:
• The equivalency of CIHQ’s
standards for hospitals as compared
with CMS’ hospital CoPs.
• CIHQ’s 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:20 Feb 23, 2017
Jkt 241001
++ The comparability of CIHQ’s
processes to those of state agencies,
including survey frequency, and the
ability to investigate and respond
appropriately to complaints against
accredited facilities.
++ CIHQ’s processes and procedures
for monitoring a hospital found out of
compliance with the CIHQ’s program
requirements. These monitoring
procedures are used only when the
CIHQ identifies noncompliance. If
noncompliance is identified through
validation reviews or complaint
surveys, the state survey agency
monitors corrections as specified at
§ 488.9(c).
++ CIHQ’s capacity to report
deficiencies to the surveyed facilities
and respond to the facility’s plan of
correction in a timely manner.
++ CIHQ’s capacity to provide CMS
with electronic data and reports
necessary for effective validation and
assessment of the organization’s survey
process.
++ The adequacy of CIHQ’s staff and
other resources, and its financial
viability.
++ CIHQ’s capacity to adequately
fund required surveys.
++ CIHQ’s policies with respect to
whether surveys are announced or
unannounced, to assure that surveys are
unannounced.
++ CIHQ’s 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 thirdparty 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.
Upon completion of our evaluation,
including evaluation of comments
received as a result of this notice, we
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
will publish a final notice in the Federal
Register announcing the result of our
evaluation.
Dated: February 16, 2017.
Patrick H. Conway,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2017–03556 Filed 2–23–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1663–N]
Medicare Program; Public Meetings in
Calendar Year 2017 for All New Public
Requests for Revisions to the
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) Coding and Payment
Determinations
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
dates, time, and location of the
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) public meetings to be
held in calendar year 2017 to discuss
our preliminary coding and payment
determinations for all new public
requests for revisions to the HCPCS.
These meetings provide a forum for
interested parties to make oral
presentations or to submit written
comments in response to preliminary
coding and payment determinations.
The discussion will be focused on
responses to our specific preliminary
recommendations and will include all
items on the public meeting agenda. As
indicated in this notice, we are
reorganizing public meeting content
under two main headings: Drugs/
Biologicals/Radiopharmaceuticals/
Radiologic Imaging Agents, and Durable
Medical Equipment (DME) and
Accessories; Orthotics and Prosthetics
(O & P); Supplies and ‘‘Other’’.
DATES: Meeting Dates: The following are
the 2017 HCPCS public meeting dates:
1. Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. eastern daylight time (e.d.t.)
Drugs/Biologicals/
Radiopharmaceuticals/Radiologic
Imaging Agents).
2. Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. e.d.t.
(Drugs/Biologicals/
Radiopharmaceuticals/Radiologic
Imaging Agents).
3. Thursday, May 18, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. e.d.t.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.SGM
24FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11579-11580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03556]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3338-PN]
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Application From the Center for
Improvement in Healthcare Quality for Continued Approval of Its
Hospital Accreditation Program
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Proposed notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This proposed notice acknowledges the receipt of an
application from the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality
(CIHQ) 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 March 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3338-PN.
Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
You may submit comments in one of four ways:
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific
issues in this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the
``submit a comment'' instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and
two copies) to the following address only: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention:
CMS-3338-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-3338-PN, Mail
Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
4. By hand or courier. Alternatively, you may deliver (by hand or
courier) your written comments to the following addresses:
a. For delivery in Washington, DC--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 445-G, Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20201.
(Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building
is not readily available to persons without Federal government
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being
filed.)
Comments erroneously mailed to the addresses indicated as
appropriate for hand or courier delivery may be delayed and received
after the comment period.
b. For delivery in Baltimore, MD--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address,
call telephone number (410) 786-9994 in advance to schedule your
arrival with one of our staff members.
For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Williams, (410) 786-8636,
Patricia Chmielewski, (410) 786-6899, or Monda Shaver, (410) 786-3410.
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 Web site as soon as possible after they have been
received: https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the search instructions
on that Web site to view public comments.
Comments received timely will also be available for public
inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3
weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments,
phone 1-800-743-3951.
I. Background
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive
covered services from a hospital, provided that 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 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 State survey agency 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 an approved national accrediting
organization that all applicable Medicare conditions are met or
exceeded, we may deem those provider entities as having met the
requirements. Accreditation by an accrediting organization is voluntary
and is not required for Medicare participation.
If an accrediting organization 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 may be deemed to meet the Medicare conditions. A
national accrediting organization applying for approval of its
accreditation program under part 488, subpart A, must provide the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with reasonable
assurance that the accrediting organization requires the accredited
provider entities to meet requirements that are at least as stringent
as the Medicare conditions. Our regulations concerning the approval of
accrediting organizations are set forth at Sec. 488.5. The regulations
at Sec. 488.5(e)(2)(i) require accrediting organizations to reapply
for continued approval of its accreditation program every 6 years or
sooner as determined by CMS.
[[Page 11580]]
The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ's) current
term of approval for their hospital accreditation program expires July
26, 2017.
II. Approval of Deeming Organizations
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
accrediting organization's requirements consider, among other factors,
the applying accrediting organization'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
CIHQ's request for continued approval of its hospital accreditation
program. This notice also solicits public comment on whether CIHQ's
requirements meet or exceed the Medicare Conditions of Participation
(CoPs) for hospitals.
III. Evaluation of Deeming Authority Request
CIHQ submitted all the necessary materials to enable us to make a
determination concerning its request for continued approval of its
hospital accreditation program. This application was determined to be
complete on December 28, 2016. 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 CIHQ's will be conducted in accordance with, but not
necessarily limited to, the following factors:
The equivalency of CIHQ's standards for hospitals as
compared with CMS' hospital CoPs.
CIHQ's 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 CIHQ's processes to those of state
agencies, including survey frequency, and the ability to investigate
and respond appropriately to complaints against accredited facilities.
++ CIHQ's processes and procedures for monitoring a hospital found
out of compliance with the CIHQ's program requirements. These
monitoring procedures are used only when the CIHQ identifies
noncompliance. If noncompliance is identified through validation
reviews or complaint surveys, the state survey agency monitors
corrections as specified at Sec. 488.9(c).
++ CIHQ's capacity to report deficiencies to the surveyed
facilities and respond to the facility's plan of correction in a timely
manner.
++ CIHQ's capacity to provide CMS with electronic data and reports
necessary for effective validation and assessment of the organization's
survey process.
++ The adequacy of CIHQ's staff and other resources, and its
financial viability.
++ CIHQ's capacity to adequately fund required surveys.
++ CIHQ's policies with respect to whether surveys are announced or
unannounced, to assure that surveys are unannounced.
++ CIHQ's 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.
Upon completion of our evaluation, including evaluation of comments
received as a result of this notice, we will publish a final notice in
the Federal Register announcing the result of our evaluation.
Dated: February 16, 2017.
Patrick H. Conway,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-03556 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P