(a) Section 1864(a) of the Act requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with any State that is able and willing to do so, under which appropriate State or local survey agencies will determine whether:

(1) Providers or prospective providers meet the Medicare conditions of participation or requirements (for SNFs and NFs);

(2) Suppliers meet the conditions for coverage; and

(3) Rural health clinics meet the conditions of certification.

(b) Section 1865(a) of the Act provides that if an institution is accredited by a national accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, it may be deemed to have met the applicable conditions or requirements.

(c) Section 1864(c) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with state survey agencies for the purpose of conducting validation surveys in institutions accredited by an accreditation program recognized by the Secretary.

(d) Section 1865(c) provides that an accredited institution that is found after a validation survey to have significant deficiencies related to health and safety of patients will no longer meet the applicable conditions or requirements.

[53 FR 22859, June 17, 1988, as amended at 56 FR 48879, Sept. 26, 1991; 58 FR 61842, Nov. 23, 1993; 62 FR 46037, Aug. 29, 1997; 80 FR 29839, May 22, 2015]