488.10—State survey agency review: Statutory provisions.
(a)
Section 1864(a) of the Act requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with any State that is able and willing to do so, under which appropriate State or local survey agencies will determine whether:
(1)
Providers or prospective providers meet the Medicare conditions of participation or requirements (for SNFs and NFs);
(b)
Section 1865(a) of the Act provides that if an institution is accredited as a hospital by the JCAHO, it will be deemed to meet the conditions of participation:
(2)
Provided that such hospital, if it is included within a validation survey, authorizes the JCAHO to release to CMS (on a confidential basis) upon request a copy of the most current JCAHO accreditation survey.
(c)
Section 1864(c) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with State survey agencies for the purpose of conducting validation surveys in hospitals accredited by the JCAHO. Section 1865(b) provides that an accredited hospital which is found after a validation survey to have significant deficiencies related to the health and safety of patients will no longer be deemed to meet the conditions of participation.
(d)
Section 1865(a) of the Act also provides that if CMS finds that accreditation of a hospital; psychiatric hospital; SNF; HHA; hospice; ASC; RHC; CORF; laboratory; screening mammography service; critical access hospital; or clinic, rehabilitation agency, or public health agency provider of outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech pathology services by any national accreditation organization provides reasonable assurance that any or all Medicare conditions are met, CMS may treat the provider or supplier as meeting the conditions.
[53 FR 22859, June 17, 1988, as amended at 56 FR 48879, Sept. 26, 1991; 58 FR 61842, Nov. 23, 1993; 62 FR 46037, Aug. 29, 1997]