The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced proposed permanent rules that are aimed at preventing online overprescribing of controlled substances by requiring in-person visits with physicians for some medications.

After providing additional training to its surveyors to increase oversight of a hospital’s plan of correction, The Joint Commission (TJC) has been approved by CMS to accredit psychiatric hospitals for participation in Medicare for another six years.

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) are once again being reminded that they must have a completed credentials file for every practitioner at their organization.

By now, most MSPs are aware that The Joint Commission and ACHC/HFAP have made significant changes to their reappointment process for healthcare practitioners. The reappointment cycle has been extended from two years to three years for practitioners who hold medical staff appointments or clinical privileges at organizations accredited by The Joint Commission or ACHC/HFAP.