The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has responded after it was removed as an accrediting organization for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS).
“BOC no longer has the authority to survey suppliers for compliance with the DMEPOS quality standards or perform any other functions of a CMS-approved DMEPOS accreditation organization for the purpose of Medicare enrollment as of Dec. 2, 2025,” CMS said.
BOC now cannot “perform reaccreditation activities; conduct surveys or provide accreditation for new location(s); conduct surveys or provide accreditation for new products; or execute any other functions as a CMS-approved accreditation organization,” CMS added. “Suppliers seeking to renew accreditation, change location, update ownership information, add new products or modify any other information pertaining to DMEPOS accreditation must obtain accreditation from a CMS-approved accreditation organization.”
“Prospective” DMEPOS suppliers who were in the process of getting accredited by BOC “must seek out one of the CMS-approved DMEPOS AOs [accrediting organizations] for potential accreditation,” the CMS announcement said.
In a Dec. 18 statement, BOC said, “All BOC certification programs remain relevant and valid for the thousands of providers holding BOC credentials.”
The statement added, “The Board of Certification/Accreditation confirms that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified BOC of its decision to immediately withdraw BOC’s status as a ‘deemed’ accrediting organization effective Dec. 2, 2025. BOC has sought guidance from CMS on how CMS plans to operationalize this abrupt change for BOC’s customers. CMS advised that all inquiries regarding impact on supplier Medicare enrollment should be directed to the following email inbox: [email protected].
“Those who value accreditation and are committed to DMEPOS product access and patient safety understand that accreditation operations cannot be abruptly halted without resulting in a negative impact on DMEPOS suppliers and the patients/beneficiaries they serve.”
The organization added, “In response to CMS’ abrupt termination, BOC has filed Board of Certification/Accreditation International, Inc. v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. et al, Case No. 1:25-cv-04150-MJM, in the United States District Court of Maryland.
“Since Dec. 2, our focus has been on the DMEPOS customers most immediately impacted: new and reaccrediting facilities in the midst of completing the final requirements to confirm compliance and receive accreditation. Some of these customers were surveyed weeks prior to CMS issuing the Dec. 2 notice of withdrawal.
“BOC is dismayed by the actions of CMS, particularly with its refusal to have verbal conversations with BOC before withdrawing BOC’s deemed status.”
CMS’s announcement about BOC follows the home health final rule, released Nov. 28, that changed the DMEPOS supplier accreditation requirement from every third year to at least once every 12 months.
The seven DMEPOS accrediting organizations are the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC); the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetic & Pedorthics (ABC); Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP); Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA); Joint Commission (JC); National Association Boards of Pharmacy (NABP); and The Compliance Team (TCT).
