Which statement about CMS acceptance of national accreditation is true?

• A. CMS always requires state-specific accreditation regardless of national accrediting bodies
• B. CMS never accepts national accrediting agencies
• C. CMS requires accreditation by at least two agencies
• D. In many states, CMS accepts certain national accreditations as meeting requirements for Medicare/Medicaid participation and licensure

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that CMS uses nationally recognized accrediting organizations as a way to satisfy Medicare/Medicaid participation and licensure requirements in many states. When a facility is accredited by a CMS-recognized national body, CMS may determine that it already meets the applicable Conditions of Participation without undergoing a separate state survey, depending on the program and state. This approach helps ensure consistent quality standards while reducing duplicative inspections. The recognition is not universal—it depends on the facility type and on which accrediting bodies CMS has approved for that program.