WHAT ARE THE TWO ACCREDITATION BODIES’ ENFORCEMENT POWERS?
The Joint Commission’s accreditation and certification programs are voluntary, and the organization has no concrete power to enforce its health care standards. However, many states require hospitals to achieve Joint Commission accreditation to be eligible for licensing and Medicare reimbursement. Similarly, certification by CCHIT is voluntary. However, under the HITECH Act — which is a component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 — hospitals and health care professionals who want to receive incentive payments under the Medicare or Medicaid programs and avoid financial penalties down the road are required to become meaningful users of certified EHR technology.
