Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Division of Medical Assistance
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/dma	
	MassHealth
	Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy 
	    Equipment Bulletin 12
	March 2002

	TO:	Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Equipment Providers Participating in MassHealth

	FROM:	Wendy E. Warring, Commissioner

	RE:	New Options for Required Accreditation 

Background	The Division is establishing new eligibility requirements for providers of oxygen and respiratory therapy equipment.  These requirements will supersede those promulgated in MassHealth Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Equipment Bulletin 10 of September 1997.

New Accreditation	The Division’s regulations at 130 CMR 427.404 require oxygen and
Options 	respiratory therapy equipment providers to be accredited.  The 
regulations currently require that accreditation be through the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), as an oxygen and respiratory therapy equipment provider.  As of April 1, 2002, the Division will also accept accreditation by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) or the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). 

The regulations will be updated at a later date to reflect this change. 

Compliance	As of April 1, 2002, and continuing until further notice, every provider submitting a provider application or reenrollment for participation in MassHealth as a provider of oxygen and respiratory therapy equipment must include documentation of current accreditation by JCAHO, CHAP, or ACHC in addition to all other required documentation.

Questions	If you have any questions about this bulletin, please contact the MassHealth Provider Services Department at 627‑628‑4141 or 1‑800‑325 5231.