The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) is a United States non-profit health care accrediting organization. It represents an alternative to the Joint Commission and CHAP, The Community Health Accreditation Program.
ACHC was established in 1985 by home care health providers to create an accreditation option which was more focused on the needs of small providers. The process began in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the group incorporated in August 1986. The first accredited organization was awarded certification in January 1987. The company began offering services on a national level in 1996. Today, ACHC offers nine accredited programs, three of which are CMS approved (Home Health, Hospice, DMEPOS).
- Home Health
- Hospice
- Private Duty
- DMEPOS
- Pharmacy
- PCAB
- Sleep
- Behavioral Health
- Ambulatory Care
The Accreditation process follows a three-year accreditation cycle. The process allows for organizations to learn best practices to better serve its client base. The accreditation process starts with the organization looking at their policies and procedures and adding them to the Preliminary Evidence Report (PER) for ACHC to review. One of their surveyors will review and give required changes. Within 3–7 months an unannounced survey will take place. Once completed the organization may have some changes to make through a Plan of Correction (PoC). If the PoC is accepted the organization will be fully accredited and rewarded with the full benefits of ACHC Accreditation, they tend to be high rated
In early 2013, ACHC moved to its all-new headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. It welcomed its new CEO, José Domingos, and it launched its Behavioral Health Program.