§1395bb. Effect of accreditation

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and the second sentence of section 1395z of this title, if-

(1) an institution is accredited as a hospital by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, and

(2)(A) such institution authorizes the Commission to release to the Secretary upon his request (or such State agency as the Secretary may designate) a copy of the most current accreditation survey of such institution made by such Commission, together with any other information directly related to the survey as the Secretary may require (including corrective action plans),¹

(B) such Commission releases such a copy and any such information to the Secretary,

then, such institution shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the numbered paragraphs of section 1395x(e) of this title; except-

(3) paragraph (6) thereof, and

(4) any standard, promulgated by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (9) thereof, which is higher than the requirements prescribed for accreditation by such Commission.

If such Commission, as a condition for accreditation of a hospital, requires a utilization review plan (or imposes another requirement which serves substantially the same purpose), requires a discharge planning process (or imposes another requirement which serves substantially the same purpose), or imposes a standard which the Secretary determines is at least equivalent to the standard promulgated by the Secretary as described in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to find that all institutions so accredited by such Commission comply also with clause (A) or (B) of section 1395x(e)(6) of this title or the standard described in such paragraph (4), as the case may be. In addition, if the Secretary finds that accreditation of an entity by the American Osteopathic Association or any other national accreditation body provides reasonable assurance that any or all of the conditions of section 1395k(a)(2)(F)(i), 1395x(e), 1395x(f), 1395x(j), 1395x(o), 1395x(p)(4)(A) or (B), paragraphs (15) and (16) of section 1395x(s), section 1395x(aa)(2), 1395x(cc)(2), 1395x(dd)(2), or 1395x(mm)(1) of this title, as the case may be, are met, he may, to the extent he deems it appropriate, treat such entity as meeting the condition or conditions with respect to which he made such finding. The Secretary may not disclose any accreditation survey (other than a survey with respect to a home health agency) made and released to him by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, the American Osteopathic Association, or any other national accreditation body, of an entity accredited by such body, except that the Secretary may disclose such a survey and information related to such a survey to the extent such survey and information relate to an enforcement action taken by the Secretary.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, if the Secretary finds that a hospital has significant deficiencies (as defined in regulations pertaining to health and safety), the hospital shall, after the date of notice of such finding to the hospital and for such period as may be prescribed in regulations, be deemed not to meet the requirements of the numbered paragraphs of section 1395x(e) of this title.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, §1865, as added July 30, 1965, Pub. L. 89–97, title I, §102(a), 79 Stat. 326 ; amended Oct. 30, 1972, Pub. L. 92–603, title II, §§234(h), 244(b), 86 Stat. 1413 , 1423; Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, title I, §§122(g)(4), 128(d)(3), 96 Stat. 362 , 367; July 18, 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title III, §§2345(a), 2346(a), 98 Stat. 1096 ; Oct. 21, 1986, Pub. L. 99–509, title IX, §§9305(c)(3), 9320(h)(3), 100 Stat. 1990 , 2016; Dec. 22, 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, title IV, §§4025(b), 4072(d), 101 Stat. 1330–117 , as amended July 1, 1988, Pub. L. 100–360, title IV, §411(d)(4)(B)(ii), 102 Stat. 774 ; July 1, 1988, Pub. L. 100–360, title II, §§204(c)(3), (d)(3), 102 Stat. 728 , 729; Oct. 13, 1988, Pub. L. 100–485, title VI, §608(d)(20)(D), 102 Stat. 2420 ; Dec. 13, 1989, Pub. L. 101–234, title II, §201(a), 103 Stat. 1981 ; Dec. 19, 1989, Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, §§6003(g)(3)(C)(iv), 6019(a)–(c), 6115(c), 103 Stat. 2153 , 2165, 2166, 2219; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub. L. 101–508, title IV, §4163(c)(3), 104 Stat. 1388–100 ; Oct. 31, 1994, Pub. L. 103–432, title I, §145(c)(4), 108 Stat. 4427 .)

Amendments

1994-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–432 struck out "1395m(c)(3)," after "conditions of section 1395k(a)(2)(F)(i)," in closing provisions.

1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508 inserted "1395m(c)(3)," after "1395k(a)(2)(F)(i)," in second sentence.

1989-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, §6115(c), substituted "paragraphs (15) and (16)" for "paragraphs (14) and (15)".

Pub. L. 101–239, §6019(b), inserted before period at end ", except that the Secretary may disclose such a survey and information related to such a survey to the extent such survey and information relate to an enforcement action taken by the Secretary".

Pub. L. 101–239, §6003(g)(3)(C)(iv), substituted "1395x(dd)(2), or 1395x(mm)(1) of this title" for "or 1395x(dd)(2) of this title" in third sentence.

Pub. L. 101–234 repealed Pub. L. 100–360, §204(c)(3), (d)(3), and provided that the provisions of law amended or repealed by such section are restored or revived as if such section had not been enacted, see 1988 and 1989 Amendment notes.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–239, §6019(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), struck out "(if it is included within a survey described in section 1395aa(c) of this title)" after "such institution", inserted ", together with any other information directly related to the survey as the Secretary may require (including corrective action plans)" after "by such Commission", and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–239, §6019(c), struck out "following a survey made pursuant to section 1395aa(c) of this title" after "if the Secretary finds".

1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–360, §411(d)(4)(B)(ii), as amended by Pub. L. 100–485, §608(d)(20)(D), added Pub. L. 100–203, §4025(b), see 1987 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 100–360, §204(d)(3), substituted "paragraphs (14) and (15)" for "paragraphs (13) and (14)" in third sentence.

Pub. L. 100–360, §204(c)(3), inserted "1395m(e)(3)," after "1395k(a)(2)(F)(i)," in third sentence.

1987-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–203, §4072(d), substituted "paragraphs (13) and (14)" for "paragraphs (12) and (13)" in penultimate sentence.

Pub. L. 100–203, §4025(b), as added by Pub. L. 100–360, §411(d)(4)(B)(ii), as amended by Pub. L. 100–485, §608(d)(20)(D), inserted "(other than a survey with respect to a home health agency)" after "survey" in last sentence.

1986-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–509, §9305(c)(3), inserted ", requires a discharge planning process (or imposes another requirement which serves substantially the same purpose)" after "the same purpose)", and "clause (A) or (B) of" after "comply also with" in second sentence.

Pub. L. 99–509, §9320(h)(3), substituted "paragraphs (12) and (13)" for "paragraphs (11) and (12)" in third sentence.

1984-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369, §2346(a), in provisions following par. (4), substituted "section 1395k(a)(2)(F)(i), 1395x(e), 1395x(f), 1395x(j), 1395x(o), 1395x(p)(4)(A) or (B), paragraphs (11) and (12) of section 1395x(s), section 1395x(aa)(2), 1395x(cc)(2), or 1395x(dd)(2) of this title" for "section 1395x(e), (j), (o), or (dd) of this title", and substituted "entity" for "institution or agency" in two places.

Pub. L. 98–369, §2345(a), struck out "(on a confidential basis)" after "release to the Secretary" in par. (2), and inserted provision that the Secretary may not disclose any accreditation survey made and released to him by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, the American Osteopathic Association, or any other national accreditation body, of an entity accredited by such body, in provisions following par. (4).

1982-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–248, §122(g)(4), substituted "(o), or (dd)" for "or (o)".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–248, §128(d)(3), substituted "a hospital" for "an institution" and "the hospital" for "such institution".

1972-Pub. L. 92–603 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted reference to subsec. (b) of this section in opening provisions, redesignated existing provisions as pars. (1) and (3) and added pars. (2) and (4) and in provisions following par. (4) inserted provisions for the imposition of a standard which the Secretary determines is at least equivalent to the standard promulgated by the Secretary as described in par. (4), and added subsec. (b).

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–432 applicable to mammography furnished by a facility on and after the first date that the certificate requirements of section 263b(b) of this title apply to such mammography conducted by such facility, see section 145(d) of Pub. L. 103–432, set out as a note under section 1395m of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable to screening mammography performed on or after Jan. 1, 1991, see section 4163(e) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 1395l of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendments

Section 6019(d) of Pub. L. 101–239 provided that:

"(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1989].

"(2) The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act."

Amendment by section 6115(c) of Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to screening pap smears performed on or after July 1, 1990, see section 6115(d) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1395x of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–234 effective Jan. 1, 1990, see section 201(c) of Pub. L. 101–234, set out as a note under section 1320a–7a of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–485 effective as if included in the enactment of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–360, see section 608(g)(1) of Pub. L. 100–485, set out as a note under section 704 of this title.

Amendment by section 204(c)(3), (d)(3) of Pub. L. 100–360 applicable to screening mammography performed on or after Jan. 1, 1990, see section 204(e) of Pub. L. 100–360, set out as a note under section 1395m of this title.

Except as specifically provided in section 411 of Pub. L. 100–360, amendment by section 411(d)(4)(B)(ii) of Pub. L. 100–360, as it relates to a provision in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, effective as if included in the enactment of that provision in Pub. L. 100–203, see section 411(a) of Pub. L. 100–360, set out as a Reference to OBRA; Effective Date note under section 106 of Title 1, General Provisions.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by section 4025(b) of Pub. L. 100–203 applicable with respect to agreements entered into or renewed on or after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 4025(c) of Pub. L. 100–203, as amended, set out as a note under section 1395aa of this title.

For effective date of amendment by section 4072(d) of Pub. L. 100–203, see section 4072(e) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as a note under section 1395x of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by section 9305(c)(3) of Pub. L. 99–509 applicable to hospitals as of one year after Oct. 21, 1986, see section 9305(c)(4) of Pub. L. 99–509, set out as a note under section 1395x of this title.

Amendment by section 9320(h)(3) of Pub. L. 99–509 applicable to services furnished on or after Jan. 1, 1989, with exceptions for hospitals located in rural areas which meet certain requirements related to certified registered nurse anesthetists, see section 9320(i), (k) of Pub. L. 99–509, as amended, set out as notes under section 1395k of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Section 2345(b) of Pub. L. 98–369 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984], and shall apply with respect to surveys released to the Secretary on, before, or after such date."

Section 2346(b) of Pub. L. 98–369 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984]."

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by section 122(g)(4) of Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to hospice care provided on or after Nov. 1, 1983, see section 122(h)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248, as amended, set out as a note under section 1395c of this title.

Amendment by section 128(d)(3) of Pub. L. 97–248 effective Sept. 3, 1982, see section 128(e)(3) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 1395x of this title.

Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Amendment by section 234(h) of Pub. L. 92–603 applicable with respect to providers of services for fiscal years beginning after the fifth month following October 1972, see section 234(i) of Pub. L. 92–603, set out as a note under section 1395x of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1320c–9, 1395x, 1395aa of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by "and".