Hospitals that participate in Medicare should be aware of two important accreditation policy changes finalized by CMS. The changes are intended to strengthen oversight of accrediting organizations, improve consistency between accreditation and state surveys, and reduce potential conflicts of interest.
CMS is eliminating the practice of accrediting organizations providing short advance notice before an accreditation survey begins. Some organizations had notified hospitals the same day, occasionally as little as an hour before surveyors arrived.
Going forward, hospitals should expect accreditation surveys to more closely resemble state surveys, where surveyors arrive without advance notice. The goal is to evaluate day-to-day operations rather than preparations made after receiving a call that surveyors are on the way.
For organizations that already maintain continuous survey readiness, this change should have little operational impact. It does, however, reinforce the importance of treating accreditation as an ongoing process rather than an event.
CMS is also limiting when an accrediting organization may provide mock surveys or similar consulting services to the hospitals it accredits.
If an accrediting organization accredits your hospital, it generally may not sell mock survey services during these periods:
CMS views these situations as potential conflicts of interest because the same organization responsible for evaluating compliance would also be providing consulting services designed to help the hospital prepare for that evaluation.
Importantly, this is not a ban on survey preparation.
Hospitals may still conduct internal mock surveys, use health system survey teams, or hire independent consultants—including former accreditation surveyors who now work in private consulting. The restriction applies to the accrediting organization itself, not to independent consulting firms.
Organizations using MediMizer CMMS can maintain continuous compliance in HTM and Facilities departments. If they routinely evaluate their processes, and perform regular internal assessments, they should be well positioned under the new rules.
The more significant change may be for hospitals that have relied on their accrediting organization to perform mock surveys immediately before an accreditation visit. Those organizations may need to shift that work to internal resources or independent consultants.
Ultimately, the CMS changes reinforce two longstanding principles: accreditation surveys should reflect everyday operations, and the organization performing the evaluation should remain independent of consulting activities that could influence the outcome.
These CMS oversight changes become effective June 16, 2027.
