The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) worked collaboratively with the OCR to revise the OCR clearance process for new providers and Changes of Ownership (CHOW).
The new process requires that providers successfully submit electronically an attestation of compliance with the civil rights requirements to the OCR before the State Survey Agencies (SA) and Regional Offices (RO) may process requests for initial surveys or CHOWs.
Confirmation from OCR of successful submission of the attestation will meet the requirements for OCR clearance and eliminates the need for CMS ROs to issue provisional provider agreements.
OCR will begin receiving electronic attestations on September 1, 2016.
Please see the attached Medicare Application Instructions.
For more information about this memo you may visit www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions-Items/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-16-37.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=2&DLSortDir=descending.