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.

AAAHC has received inquiries regarding the recently revised CMS Conditions for Coverage (CfC) at 42 CFR § 416.41(b) regarding hospital transfer agreements and physicians with admitting privileges, 42 CFR § 416.52(a)(1) regarding the pre-surgical history and physical (H&P), and 42 CFR § 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. For all AAAHC accreditation programs, including the Medicare Deemed Status program, AAAHC expects clients to maintain compliance with the most recently published Standards.

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