Opportunity
Federal Register #CMS-3473-FN
CMS Approval of ACHC for Continued Accreditation of Critical Access Hospitals and Hospice Programs
Buyer
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Posted
April 03, 2026
Identifier
CMS-3473-FN
NAICS
541690
This notice announces the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) as a national accrediting organization for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and hospice programs participating in Medicare. - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - OEM/Vendor: - Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) - Services Requested: - Accreditation services for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) - ACHC provides accreditation services that meet or exceed Medicare Conditions of Participation, including survey processes, monitoring, and reporting - Accreditation services for hospice programs - ACHC ensures compliance with Medicare hospice Conditions of Participation and survey requirements - Unique/Notable Requirements: - ACHC revised its standards and survey processes to align with Medicare requirements, including Life Safety Code and Health Care Facility Code compliance - Public comments were considered and supported ACHC's renewal applications - Approval is based on comprehensive evaluation of ACHC's standards and processes, ensuring they are comparable to state survey agencies - No products or purchase quantities are requested; this is an approval of ACHC's accreditation program for CAHs and hospices
Description
This notice announces the approval of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) for continued CMS approval as a national accrediting organization for hospice programs participating in Medicare and Medicaid. The approval is effective from November 27, 2025, through November 27, 2031. The notice details the evaluation process, including ACHC's compliance with Medicare conditions of participation and survey processes comparable to state survey agencies. Public comments were considered in the decision-making process.