Thursday, September 02, 2010
For a complete description of the HQAA accreditation
process, please click on the "How to Apply" link to the left.
Thoughts...
I do quite a bit of reading, and not just the ‘pass the time on the airplane’ reading, but I find myself wanting to read what others are doing to stay in business, or to increase their business in the economic climate that we are experiencing, and unfortunately reading about those DME companies that have had to close their doors. HQAA would also like to “Stand with Richard” (speaking of Richard Lamb of Freedom2Go) as described by Jeff Brast, of Richardson, TX in the latest HME News (see page 8 in the Editorial section). So as I lift my afternoon Diet Dew to you Richard and your many dedicated staff that have only cared about quality of care for your patients, I salute you and your efforts. You earned our respect as a company who was dedicated to always doing the right thing!
And on a finishing note about my reading habits, I like to balance my reading of Industry news with other business-related reading. This month I found it fascinating to go from all of the Industry ‘gloom and doom’ to the Quality Industry focus on sustainability and long term success. It seems as if all facets of business and industry are facing their own challenges – shocking! Reading about a quality management approach to guide companies in to long term and sustainable success is very refreshing. It is also great food for thought; nourishment if you will for an appetite that is hungry for some good news, for progress and for improvement. The moral of the short story --- we create our own story, one in which we can keep driving forward doing the best we know how and using all time, talent and resources in the most efficient way possible. Long term sustainability, I like the sound of that!
HQAA Surveyor Training Conference
The theme, “Conference of Champions” was held in Waterloo this year and was a time for all HQAA surveyors to come together to renew and revitalize. Our guest speaker this year spoke to us all about Professionalism and Customer-Centric Surveying; our time to recommit to the collaborative, team-approach to the quality and improvement of our industry. There was some fun along the way as well, and because the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) was occurring at the same time, we had our own visit from Lance Headstrong. Who knew we had a bicycling surveyor that could teach us too? The important note for readers is that our entire staff of coaches, support personnel and surveyors did recommit to ensuring that your accreditation experience will be the value you deserve.
For information on the following topics, click on the topic name:
Pharmacy Accreditation Exemption :: Decision Tree
Re-Application Process
ACT Service
The Fall travel season is about to take shape. We hope to see you in person at your state association meetings or industry related events!
Until
the next update, Keep Quality Continuous!
Pharmacy Accreditation Exemption
In July, CMS made information available about the Affordable Care Act, which amends the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, regarding the extension of the deadline for pharmacy accreditation until January 1, 2011. In addition to this extension, pharmacies that furnish DMEPOS may qualify for an exemption if the pharmacy meets the following criteria:
- The total billings by the pharmacy for DMEPOS are less than 5 % of total pharmacy sales for the previous three calendar years; and
- The pharmacy has been enrolled as a supplier of DME equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies and has been issued a provider number for at least five years; and
- No final adverse action has been imposed on the pharmacy in the past five years; and
- The pharmacy submits an attestation, in the manner and at the timeframe to be determined, that the pharmacy meets the criteria listed in 1 through 3; and
- The pharmacy agrees to submit materials as requested during the course of an audit conducted on a random sample of pharmacies selected annually.
- Total DMEPOS billings are considered as less than 5% of the total pharmacy revenue.
- Newly opened locations are required to be accredited. They do not meet the exemption requirement of having been enrolled for at least 5 years
Renewal or Re-application Process with HQAA
The Workroom portion of the HQAA process is thought of as a “shared” policy and procedure manual. When uploading all required documents, HQAA then has a record of your methods to meet the standards ‘on paper’. These are the records that your surveyor reviewed prior to the on-site visit, laying a foundation for current accreditation awards.
The re-application process begins with the home page button, “Click here to Apply”. Even if it is not your first time, you will see a page asking if the intent is to re-apply. The HQAA ID# is needed to begin an efficient process of completing the application. All current information about your company will be available to edit and update, saving you time in completing a whole new application.
Once in your Workroom, a coach will continue to be assigned as your personal resource. The main objective will be to review all documents on file, update and upload those that have changed, and keep those documents on file that have not. YOU are in control of keeping or updating the documents. Simple. Efficient. Personal.
It is our recommendation to re-apply with HQAA 6 – 9 months prior to the expiration of your accreditation. The expectation is to leave a 4 month window from the point of workroom completion to survey, post-survey activity and then accreditation. Consideration needs to be given to how much time can be dedicated to completion of the Workroom activity. HQAA does send letters via USPS as courtesy reminders to give consideration to your time frames. Expiration dates are noted and documented by the NSC; do not risk extending your work past your date.
ACT Service (Accreditation Continuation Toolkit)
Many accredited HQAA customers have taken advantage of the support, resources and bite-sized approach to maintain the quality processes and procedures put in to place with the accreditation journey. If you haven’t taken a peek, or inquired about how the ACT service can guide you in to a maintenance habit, go to www.acttoolkit.com for a look.
Features of the ACT service include:
- Discussion Forum - subscribers can openly discuss topics that are relevant. There is a discussion forum for every U.S. state so that rules, regulations and discussion can occur pertinent to your location. Sharing Quality anecdotes, success stories and inquiries will do nothing but strengthen the industry as a whole.
- Sharing Progress – The bite-sized weekly topic outlines can be shared via email with anyone in the organization. Email progress to the CEO, to the HR manager or to the Quality Management Team for meeting discussions.
- Workroom/Coach Access – Updating your policies and procedures? Upload the revisions in your Workroom and receive coach feedback.
- Worksheet Timeline – Quick visual showing completion of the monthly topic worksheets. Miss working on any? Go back to pick them up and work through at your leisure.
- Education / Resources – Each monthly topic has been turned in to an audio/visual training session which can be viewed unlimited times and can be offered to all staff to ensure complete understanding of not only the topics but the standards that the topics relate to. The sessions are presented in an appealing manner with voice-over that emphasizes the most important points.
MOST IMPORTANTLY --- Maintaining your accreditation requirements over the term of your accreditation will prevent unnecessary costs and time backtracking at your next survey. Be proACTive and take bite-size steps all along the way!
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