ACHC - Medicare Deeming Authority for Home Health, Hospice, & DMEPOS

Accreditation Programs

ACHC is excited to offer accreditation programs tailored specifically to the home care and alternate site healthcare industry. Our accreditation standards result from ACHC staff and volunteer industry leaders combining their talents and time to develop industry-leading standards and criteria. Our standards are written for ease of understanding with realistic expectations in daily operations.

Home Health

Home Health services are skilled services that are usually provided on a per-visit basis, as opposed to hourly, for a short duration of time. These services are usually provided by a licensed and /or Medicare certified agency. Home Health services are provided by skilled professionals including nursing; physical, occupational and speech therapy; medical social work and home health aide.

Infusion Nursing

Infusion Nursing services are the administration of parenteral medications via various accesses and ports by an RN specifically trained in these specialized services. This service can be performed in a variety of settings.

Hospice

Hospice is the care of patients with life limiting illnesses in the home or hospice inpatient facility. End of life care involves a multidisciplinary approach to medical care, pain management and emotional/spiritual care. This team approach will be used in the survey process. ACHC surveys are conducted by a hospice nurse surveyor as well as a clinical support surveyor, such as a medical social worker. An agency that provides inpatient services must adhere to the inpatient standards as well as the primary hospice standards.

Sleep Lab

Sleep Lab is a facility that provides testing for sleeping disorders either in an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF), as defined by CMS, or hospital based testing facilities. Sleep testing can also be conducted in the home.

Home/Durable Medical Equipment Services

HME/DME services are the delivery, set-up and maintenance of medical equipment as well as patient education regarding the use of this equipment. Examples that fit in this category are: beds, wheelchairs, CPAP, oxygen, or any items that are considered by Medicare to be a rental item. Also included in this category are: power mobility devices such as scooters, group one and group two devices without power options.

Clinical Respiratory Care

Clinical Respiratory Care services are the care provided by a respiratory therapist or registered nurse. The care includes the skilled assessment, treatment and education of patients requiring ongoing care.

Medical Supply Provider

Medical Supply Provider (MSP) services are the storage and delivery of supplies used for medical management in the home. These supplies are generally ordered by a physician and are usually disposable or semi-durable such as diabetic supplies. Pharmacies that provide supplies but do not rent equipment are surveyed by these standards. Companies that provide only sale items typically fall into this category. Exceptions to this rule are nebulizers and enteral feeding pumps. These products are normally considered DME, however if the company contracts with another provider for service, these products can be surveyed by the MSP standards.

Complex Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Supplier

Rehabilitation technology supplies are equipment that primarily addresses wheeled mobility, seating and alternative positioning, ambulation support and equipment, environmental control, augmented communication and other equipment that assist patients in performing activities of daily living. These items are classified by devices as group two or higher with power options. To apply for this accreditation, your company must employ a full time credentialed assistive technology professional.

Fitter Services

Fitter services include products that require specialized fitting such as post-mastectomy prosthesis, certain orthotic devices and diabetic shoes.

Pharmacy Services

Note: For Retail Pharmacy see Medical Supply Provider

Pharmacies that distribute medical supplies to patients with out any ongoing rentals fall under Medical Supply Provider. This includes products such as diabetic strips, ostomy supplies, canes, walkers, or any other items that can be sold to the end user. If a pharmacy does simple non-sterile compounding of ointments, eye ointments, salves or creams, they fall into this category. If these are the only services offered by the pharmacy, please select Medical Supply Provider standards.

Infusion Pharmacy

Infusion Pharmacy is defined as a pharmacy that provides parenteral (e.g. intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular) medications for patients in alternate settings. This service includes clinical monitoring by the pharmacy, and may include nursing services as well.

Ambulatory Infusion Center

Ambulatory Infusion Center (AIC) is defined as a centralized location where a patient can receive infusion therapy. The facility will be staffed by a nurse(s) and in some cases, a pharmacist. Services provided are directed by a physician. A pharmacist must compound and provide medications and the nurse must administer the medication.

Specialty Pharmacy

Specialty Pharmacy is defined as a pharmacy that dispenses medications (usually self injectable biotechnology drugs) to a client’s home, physician’s office, or clinics specializing in certain chronic disease states. These medications benefit a targeted patient population with a chronic and sometimes life threatening disease.

Non-Certified/Private Duty Program

These services include skilled and non-skilled care in the home that is not provided by a Medicare certified home health agency.

Private Duty Nursing

Private Duty Nursing services are usually provided either hourly or by shift and are covered by various payers, but not Medicare. Services can be provided by an RN or LPN.

Private Duty Aide

Private Duty Aide services encompass all levels of care provided by a nursing assistant or sitter including Personal Care Services, chore, companion sitters and homemakers.