Why HFAP
Your Guide to Successful Accreditation
HFAP is a nationally recognized healthcare facility accreditation
organization, with deeming authority from the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS). HFAP meets or exceeds the standards required by
CMS to provide accreditation to all hospitals, ambulatory care/surgical
facilities, mental health facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, clinical
laboratories, critical access hospitals and stroke centers.
HFAP is also recognized by:
- National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
- State departments of public health
- Managed care organizations
- Insurance companies
Clear and Direct Survey Standards
HFAP standards have been “cross-walked” to the Medicare Conditions of Participation
(CoPs) for each type of facility. This cross-walk approach means anyone reading
the HFAP standards m anual can clearly see how each standard ties directly to
a Medicare CoPs.
HFAP standards reflect Medicare standards (40%), patient safety (27%), quality improvement
(29%), environmental safety (26%) and patient treatment (47%).
Compliance with HFAP requirements assures compliance with Medicare standards.
Basis of HFAP accreditation survey standards:
- Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs)
- NFPA Life Safety Code
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)
- National Quality Forum
- Medicare Foundation
- Additional non-Medicare quality standards
- Suggestions and input from our customers
High-Quality, Helpful Surveyors
Our surveyors are practicing medical professionals, with practical field experience
and a helpful attitude—when a problem is discovered, they are ready
to discuss options in real time.
HFAP accreditation survey teams have an average of three surveyors:
A physician serves as team captain, along with a registered nurse and hospital administrator.
To ensure surveyors maintain a high level of professional quality, HFAP requires:
- All surveyors attend mandatory training workshops to augment the
real-world experience they bring with them
- HFAP surveyor teams are not "fixed", so surveyors work with a variety of
other surveyors
- During each survey, each team member scores the other team members
in a variety of categories
Comprehensive, Straight-Forward Survey Process
The HFAP facility accreditation process can take from six to nine months to
complete, from application to accreditation.
The basic steps in the accreditation surveying process include:
- Application
- Survey
- Deficiency report
- Plan of corrections
- Accreditation action
When switching your accreditation to HFAP our staff can work with you to ensure
that there is no interruption in reimbursement. Ideally, we would like
to begin the application process at least six months prior to the expiration
date of your current accreditation.
Cost-Effective Quality Survey
Our customers tell us we provide the most cost effective approach.
Determining the HFAP facility accreditation survey fee is straight-forward,
varying only by the size and volume of your organization. And because our standards
are so clearly written, additional consultations and workshops are available,
but not required.
There are three main elements to the HFAP fee for accrediting a
facility:
- Triennial Registration Fee ($3,900 X 3 = $11,700) plus adjustment
for volume tied to Medicare Cost Report
- Purchase of Accreditation Standards Manual ($375)
- Reimbursement for direct costs of conducting the survey, depending
on the number of surveyors assigned to your facility and their travel costs. (Avg.
$10,600)
Currently, a three-year accreditation averages $8,600 annually.