How to Credential a Home Health Agency

Home health care companies need accreditation, not only to ensure patients that they're getting quality care, but also to bill insurance companies like Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare/Medicaid. Home health care accreditation is an investment in the future of your company. By going through the accreditation process, home health care companies receive the benefits of an experienced team to help them get their companies up and running efficiently, not only in the areas of accounting and industry standards, but also in the day-to-day running of the business.

Instructions

• 1

  Choose an accrediting agency that best fits your business model and provides the types of certificates you are looking for. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), The Community Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP), and Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) are all well-respected leaders in home health care accreditation.

• 2

  Read over the requirements for accreditation on the website of the agency you choose, or request that an accreditation tool kit be sent to you by mail. Requirements include, but may not be limited to, patient volume and whether you are interested in becoming Medicare certified.

• 3

  Request an online application from the accrediting agency of your choice, and choose a month to be ready for an initial survey from the accrediting agency. Be sure and select a date that will allow you time to prepare.

• 4

  Pay your application deposit. The amount varies depending on the accrediting agency and the different certifications for which you are applying.

• 5

  Purchase a home-care standards manual and use the information in the manual to prepare for your survey.