ACHC Updating Hospital Standards

Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) Standards are being updated for Critical Access Hospital Accreditation in 2022. In addition to regular program updates, revisions will also incorporate new COVID-19 vaccination requirements mandated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

CMS Vaccination Mandate

A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 13, 2022, lifted injunctions that had blocked enforcement of the mandate in 24 states. The decision expands enforcement nationwide for certain healthcare workers at most organizations that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

In accordance with updated guidance from CMS, ACHC will begin surveying against CMS vaccination requirements on the following dates:

• January 27, 2022, for affected organizations subject to the mandate in states not covered by the previous injunctions.
• February 14, 2022, for affected organizations in states that had contested the mandate, with the exception of Texas.
• February 22, 2022, for affected organizations in Texas.

ACHC is adding a new critical access hospital standard to align with CMS COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Click below for details. CMS approval is pending.

Additional Standards Updates

For ACHC Critical Access Hospital Standards updates not related to the mandate, the anticipated effective date is June 1, 2022. A prepublication link to a detailed crosswalk of changes will be emailed to you. All proposed changes to ACHC Standards must be approved by CMS.

See below for a list of chapters that will include non-mandated changes:

• Chapter 1: Compliance with Regulations
• Chapter 3: Physical Environment
• Chapter 4: Organizational Structure
• Chapter 6.03: Nutritional Services
• Chapter 6.07: Contracted Services and Agreements
• Chapter 6.08: Nursing Services
• Chapter 8: Surgical Services
• Chapter 9: Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
• Chapter 11: Swing Beds
• Chapter 14: Life Safety
• Chapter 16: Restraints
• Chapter 17: Emergency Management
• Chapter 18: Infection Prevention & Antibiotic Stewardship Program

Here to Help

If you have questions or need more information, please contact your Account Advisor, email customerservice@achc.org, or call (855) 937-2242.

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