CMS approves Gurnee's AAAASF as Deeming Authority for ASCs Through 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unconditionally renewed Gurnee's American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc.'s (AAAASF) Deeming Authority to accredit Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) participating in Medicare or Medicaid. The renewal reflects AAAASF's Gold Standard for quality patient care and extends AAAASF's Deeming Authority for six more years.

As recorded in the Federal Register on November 26, 2012 (Vol. 77, No. 227), approval was granted to the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities for Continuing CMS Approval of its Ambulatory Surgical Center Accreditation Program.

CMS has determined that AAAASF's national standards for accreditation of ASCs meet or exceed CMS's requirements. Therefore, they have approved AAAASF (without condition) as a national accreditation organization for ASCs that request participation in the Medicare program, effective November 27, 2012 through November 27, 2018.

“We have been a deeming authority for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) since the late 1990s. Our continued deeming authority for Medicare and Medicaid reflects the professional relationship we have attained with CMS. We are proud that CMS recognizes the high accreditation standards we set for assuring patient safety in the ASC environment,” said Geoffrey R. Keyes, MD, FACS, AAAASF's newly elected board president, adding “Today, with more than 2,000 accredited outpatient facilities, AAAASF is the largest accrediting organization of its kind in the nation.”

Patient safety is the mission of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF).

Federal Register notice

Visit AAAASF at aaaasf.org.