Beginning October 1, 2017, HHAs have the option to hire a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved accreditation organization (AO) to obtain an initial licensing survey.
Due to the high volume of HHA initial licensing applications, there is currently a delay of between 3 months to 2 years for HHA initial application surveys depending on the workload of the district office (DO) where the HHA is located. HHAs seeking to expedite their licensing approval process are encouraged to take advantage of this new option.
A new HHA that is beginning the application process and wants an initial licensing survey conducted by an AO must:
- file an application with the Centralized Applications Unit (CAU) and include a cover letter indicating they intend to hire an AO, specifying which AO they have selected,
- contact and hire an AO,
- await an application approval letter from CAU, and
- contact the AO to schedule the initial survey.
Once the survey is complete, the AO will send the findings to the HHA and a copy to CAU. If the HHA passes the AO initial survey, CAU will issue a six-month provisional license. The DO will inform new HHAs awaiting survey of the option to have the AO conduct the survey.
A new HHA that has an approved application but is awaiting initial survey and wants a survey conducted by an AO must:
- inform the local DO of intent to use the AO option and specify an AO,
- hire the AO, and
- schedule the initial survey.
Once the survey is complete, the AO will send the findings to the HHA with a copy to CAU. If the HHA passes the AO initial survey, CAU will issue a six-month provisional license.
HHAs may use the following CMS-approved AOs for this new licensing process:
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
139 Weston Oaks Ct.
Cary, NC 27513
Phone: 855-937-2242
Website: http://www.achc.org/
Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP)
1275 K Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-862-3413
Website: http://www.chapinc.org/
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Website: www.jointcommission.org
For questions regarding the status of the survey, please contact the AO. If you have any questions regarding the status of the HHA application, please contact CAU at CAU@cdph.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Jean Iacino
Jean Iacino
Deputy Director