CMS has issued a Request of Information notice to seek public comment about accrediting organizations that offer paid consulting services to Medicare-participating providers that they also accredit.
CMS intends to find out if consulting for the same facilities that they accredit presents a conflict of interest for these accrediting organizations.
"We are seeking feedback on a number of questions related to this potential conflict of interest, including whether we should revise our review process to identify actual, potential or perceived [accrediting organization] conflicts of interest as part of the application and renewal process for all [accrediting organizations]," CMS stated.