When PHE ends, don’t expect grace period from CMS

by A.J. Plunkett (aplunkett@decisionhealth.com)

CMS continues to work with accreditation organizations (AOs) on providing some remote flexibilities in conducting surveys. But only through the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

After that you will be expected to be ready for survey. There will not be a grace period.

Inside Accreditation & Quality  (IAQ) asked CMS to confirm that it was allowing AOs to conduct full, reaccreditation surveys remotely under certain conditions.

In a December 22 email, CMS acknowledged the agency was working with AOs on remote surveys— but not beyond the PHE. After that, it’s operations as usual.

“CMS has not approved any virtual processes for use after the PHE. CMS will not be granting a recovery period at the end of the PHE. AOs are expected to resume normal survey activity based on guidance and any additional information we may provide,” according to the statement.

See more about which AOs will be providing remote full accreditation surveys in the February IAQ.