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    Compliance & Survey

    Accreditation (ACHC, CHAP, TJC)

    Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation in which a CMS-approved accrediting organization certifies that a home health agency meets standards that meet or exceed the Medicare Conditions of Participation. For home health, the three accreditors with CMS deeming authority are the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP), and The Joint Commission (TJC). Accredited agencies with deemed status are surveyed by their accreditor instead of the state for routine certification purposes.

    Definition

    Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation in which a CMS-approved accrediting organization certifies that a home health agency meets standards that meet or exceed the Medicare Conditions of Participation. For home health, the three accreditors with CMS deeming authority are the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP), and The Joint Commission (TJC). Accredited agencies with deemed status are surveyed by their accreditor instead of the state for routine certification purposes.

    Why it matters

    Accreditation (ACHC, CHAP, TJC) is part of the Compliance & Survey vocabulary used across home health operations, documentation, and revenue cycle. Understanding it helps clinicians, QA leads, and administrators stay aligned on care quality and compliance.

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    Related terms

    36-Month RuleAnti-Kickback StatuteBackground Checks and ScreeningCare CompareChange of Ownership (CHOW)Claims-Based Measures

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