CMS Approves Institute for Medical Quality’s ASC Accreditation Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its approval of the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) as an approved Medicare accreditation program for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs).

IMQ was created in January 1996 as a not-for-subsidiary of the California Medical Association. According to IMQ, the organization “was designed to… make providing quality care easier and eliminate, rather than create, barriers to doing so” and provides a “heavy emphasis on education, counseling, and direct involvement of practicing physicians.”

The initial four-year approval is effective April 29, 2016, and is limited to

CMS Memorandum: Use of Portable Reverse Osmosis (RO) Units and Block Carbon

CMS Memorandum S&C: 15-44-ESRD: Use of Portable Reverse Osmosis (RO) Units and Block Carbon
June 26, 2015

Memorandum Summary

• Portable Reverse Osmosis Units that meet Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) water quality standards, as incorporated by reference in the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Condition for Coverage (CfC) at 42 CFR Section 494.40, may be used in outpatient dialysis facilities.
• ESRD Surveyors should follow the ESRD Core Survey process in conjunction with this guidance for use of portable RO units and block carbon in outpatient dialysis facilities.

CMS Memorandum: Advanced Copy – Update to Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet (ICSW)

CMS Memorandum S&C: 15-43-ASC: Advanced Copy – Update to Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet (ICSW)
June 26, 2015

Memorandum Summary

• ASC Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet Revisions: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made minor revisions to the Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet, Exhibit 351 of the State Operations Manual (SOM) for assessing compliance with the Medicare ASC Infection Control Condition for Coverage (CfC).
• Change: Revisions were made to bring the worksheet into alignment with current accepted standards of practice; reflect recently released guidance; and improve the clarity of certain questions. The worksheet is used by State and Federal surveyors on all survey activity in ASCs when assessing compliance with the infection control CfC.