Standards & Policy Updates
AAAHC regularly reviews its policies, procedures, and Standards to determine whether revisions are necessary. Please review the content below for the changes relevant to your organization.
Standards and policies in the 2018 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care remain in effect for all surveys other than those for health plans and ASCs in the Medicare Deemed Status program.
CMS recently revised the requirements of § 416.41(b) regarding hospital transfer agreements and physicians with admitting privileges, § 416.52(a)(1) regarding the pre-surgical history and physical (H&P), and § 416.54(a), (b), (c) and (d) regarding emergency preparedness plans and drills. These changes are effective November 29, 2019, at which time all ASCs subject to CMS surveys will be expected to be in full compliance.
Please note that at this time, the AAAHC 2018 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care and AAAHC 2017-18 Accreditation Handbook for Deemed Status Surveys remain unchanged.
Health Plans 2018
The 2018 Accreditation Handbooks for Health Plans and FEHB Health Plans were issued in January 2018, went into effect for surveys beginning in June 2018, and remain in effect until further notice.
Advanced Orthopedic Certification
For information regarding the current Standards for Advanced Orthopedic Certification, click here.
If you have questions regarding these changes, contact Accreditation Services at 847.853.6060.