Comments: Accrediting Organizations Conflict of Interest and Consulting Services RFI
February 19, 2019
Comments
Comments: Accrediting Organizations Conflict of
Interest and Consulting Services; Request for InformationMedicare is a valuable, trusted program that provides health care coverage to over 59 million older adults and people with disabilities. People rely on Medicare for high-quality care and entrust CMS with providing robust oversight that ensures beneficiary health and well-being are always at the forefront.
This reliance and trust can be put at risk if beneficiaries perceive conflicts of interest or bias in the program. We are encouraged that CMS has issued this RFI to determine whether Accrediting Organizations that provide guidance and other consulting to the facilities they accredit could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest. For the reasons outlined below, we conclude these relationships do create a perceived conflict of interest and should be barred.
In order to participate in the Medicare program, most providers—including providers of services, suppliers, facilities, clinics, agencies, or laboratories—must first be certified by State Survey Agencies or accredited by CMS-approved national accreditation organizations (AOs). Most providers may choose between the state agency or the AO at their discretion. However, certain suppliers and laboratories must be accredited by AOs, creating a built-in market for the fee-based accreditation services.
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.
Comments: Accrediting Organizations Conflict of Interest and Consulting Services RFI
Comments: Accrediting Organizations Conflict of
Interest and Consulting Services; Request for InformationMedicare is a valuable, trusted program that provides health care coverage to over 59 million older adults and people with disabilities. People rely on Medicare for high-quality care and entrust CMS with providing robust oversight that ensures beneficiary health and well-being are always at the forefront.
This reliance and trust can be put at risk if beneficiaries perceive conflicts of interest or bias in the program. We are encouraged that CMS has issued this RFI to determine whether Accrediting Organizations that provide guidance and other consulting to the facilities they accredit could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest. For the reasons outlined below, we conclude these relationships do create a perceived conflict of interest and should be barred.
In order to participate in the Medicare program, most providers—including providers of services, suppliers, facilities, clinics, agencies, or laboratories—must first be certified by State Survey Agencies or accredited by CMS-approved national accreditation organizations (AOs). Most providers may choose between the state agency or the AO at their discretion. However, certain suppliers and laboratories must be accredited by AOs, creating a built-in market for the fee-based accreditation services.
Reference
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Comments on Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D for 2025
Statement for the Record on Medicare Advantage Marketing and the Enrollee Experience
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.