Accreditation

Bill could end Joint Commission's deeming authority

Accreditation Connection, August 20, 2007

Under a recently approved House Bill, Joint Commission-accredited hospitals would no longer automatically meet requirements under CMS conditions of participation. Two different iterations of the bill, The Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007, have been passed in the House and Senate this month and must be reconciled between both the House and Senate before moving forward. President Bush has indicated he would veto the bill.

One segment of the House bill revises H.R. 3162, Section 507 to say: "Revocation of Deeming Authority of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Repeals JCAHO's unique statutory protection, effective eighteen months after enactment."

Washington Watch has provided a detailed summary of the House bill here. Look for additional coverage in Briefings on the Joint Commission.

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