Medicare Approved Accreditation Agency - Research Paper Example

Medicare and Medicaid Accreditation Organizations Number Due Introduction The medical sector is a crucial to societies around the world and hence there is the need for proper maintenance of quality and standards in the industry. In order to ensure that healthcare institutions and agencies maintain quality in service provision, various standards and processes have been put in place to ensure that such standards are followed and enforced. Healthcare organizations and agencies are required to comply with the established standards and processes and to do so, they can choose to be certified or accredited by governmental and non-governmental agencies.

When a healthcare organization has met the set standards of a government agency, it referred to as certification while on the other hand if the healthcare organization has met the set standards and processes of a non-governmental agency then it is referred as accreditation (Ellis & Hartley, 2004). Healthcare companies such as pharmacies, clinics and hospitals they are required to be approved by specific organizations for them to be eligible to receive third party payment. This paper examines the roles of one Medicare approved accreditation agency and further describes the regulations and standards of care that are associated with pharmacy practice.

Accreditation OrganizationsThe centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries have access to medical equipment that are of high quality, right price and that they receive high quality service from the suppliers of medical equipment. In order to achieve the above mandate, CMS has the right to chose national accreditation organizations that in turn accredit healthcare organizations and agencies (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).

The accreditation organization that is discussed in this paper is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has also approved National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) as the new hospital accreditation option. NIAHO offer quality management system for healthcare organizations, medical staff and administrative officials and further ensures that healthcare organizations comply and achieve the standards.

The accreditation standard for NIAHO is the ISO 9001:2000 and it provides options for healthcare organizations to adhere conform and comply with the Medicare conditions of participation (NIAHO, 2012). Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) offers accreditation to hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and other related health organizations. JCAHO has standards and processes that healthcare organizations and agencies should adhere to and JCAHO often evaluate the structural aspects of health care organizations, their policies, procedures and outcomes of care (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).

The standards and surveys of JCAHO extensively focus on the safety and quality o the medication used. Hospitals and health systems pharmacies must be accredited by JCAHO in order for them to receive Medicare, Medicaid and other health plans. JCAHO has provided standards of practice for pharmacies but does not specify how such standards are to met(Brown, 2009). Pharmacies are required to develop and determine the suitable ways of implementing the standards and processes based on their scope of practice.

According to JCAHO the standards related to pharmacy are enshrined under the medication use section and care of the patient section that outlines standards of care that are pertinent to pharmacy practice. Examples of best practice standards that are outline include the requirement for patient education on medications, medication safety and standards for preparing, obtaining, storing, distributing, administering, dispensing and disposing of medical products among others (World-Health-Organization, 2009).

ConclusionRules, regulations and standards are crucial in the healthcare sector so as to ensure safety and welfare of health care recipients. Healthcare accreditation organizations are charged with the responsibly of ensuring that healthcare organizations and agencies operate within the set out standards, polices and processes. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) have played crucial roles in ensuring that healthcare organizations meet the required standards by recommending and approving various medical organizations.

ReferencesBrown, T. R. (2009). Handbook of Institutional Pharmacy Practice. Bethesda: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.Ellis, J. R., & Hartley, C. L. (2004). Nursing in Todays World:Trends, Issues & Management. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.NIAHO. (2012). National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHOSM):Interpretive Guidelines and Surveyor Guidance. Retrieved May 26, 2012, from http://pntb.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/NIAHO-Interpretive-Guidelines_18c.

pdfWorld Health Organization. (2009). Good Pharmacy practise. Geneva: World Health Organization.