The AAMC submitted April 15 comments (PDF) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to a proposed rule on accrediting organization (AO) oversight and conflicts of interest [refer to Washington Highlights, Feb. 16]. In the letter, the association emphasized the important role of AOs in ensuring providers maintain the highest standard of care for their patients. The AAMC opposed the CMS’ proposal to require that AO surveys of health care providers be unannounced, citing the need for health care systems to receive notice to ensure relevant staff are present at the time of the survey.
The letter expressed agreement with having robust safeguards in place to avoid AO conflicts of interest but opposed the agency’s proposal to prohibit providers from receiving fee-based consulting services from an AO that also accredits the provider. In the letter, the AAMC also supported the phase-out of lookback validation surveys performed by state survey agencies, which are burdensome for providers and disrupt patient care. Instead, the AAMC urged, the CMS should increase its use of direct observation surveys, which occur at the same time as the AO survey.
- Washington Highlights