The Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) is a national, independent,
U.S. not-for-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. CHAP is the oldest national, community-based accrediting body with more than 9,000 agencies currently accredited nationwide.
History
In 1965, CHAP was the first to recognize the need and value for accreditation in community-based care. The organization was created as a joint venture between the
American Public Health Association and the
National League for Nursing (NLN). CHAP became a separately incorporated, non-profit subsidiary of the NLN in 1988, under the CHAP name.
In 1992, CHAP was granted deeming authority for
home care Homecare (also spelled as home care) is health care or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the individual home where the patient or client is living, as opposed to care provided in group accommodations like clinics or nursing h ...
by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer M ...
. In 1999 it received deeming authority for
hospice
Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life b ...
s. CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice, and home medical equipment services, to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards.
Through "deeming authority" granted by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer M ...
(CMS), in 1992, CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice, and
home medical equipment services to determine if they meet the
Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards.
For context about CHAP's role, one could turn to how its accreditation function is considered quasi-voluntary. Here, although the accreditation appears to be voluntary, there is often a linked governmental regulation that encourages organizations and their programs to comply in the process. This is part of the move towards promoting common standards among health departments both on the state and national levels.
Today, the CHAP accreditation is recognized as the standard when determining the level of excellence in home care. Meeting CHAP's requirements is the same as satisfying the CMS standards.
See also
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Community Health Community health refers to simple health services that are delivered by laymen outside hospitals and clinics. Community health is also the subset of public health that is taught to and practiced by clinicians. Community health volunteers and commu ...
*
Community health centers in the United States
The community health center (CHC) in the United States is the dominant model for providing integrated primary care and public health services for the low-income and uninsured, and represents one use of federal grant funding as part of the country ...
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Hospital Accreditation
* Hospice Accreditation
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International healthcare accreditation
Due to the near-universal desire for safe and good quality healthcare, there is a growing interest in international healthcare accreditation. Providing healthcare, especially of an adequate standard, is a complex and challenging process. Healthca ...
*
List of Healthcare Accreditation Organizations in the USA
References
External links
Official website*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20080719145749/http://www.accreditation.localhealth.net/History.htm Developing and Implementing the Accreditation Program: The Pilot Process
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Healthcare accreditation organizations in the United States
Hospitals in the United States
Medicare and Medicaid (United States)