Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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Reader task: you work for, or advise, a home health, hospice, home care or home medical equipment organization and need to know what CHAP accreditation is, what it covers, how deemed status changes the survey path, and how the application process runs.
What CHAP accreditation is
CHAP accreditation is an accreditation issued by CHAP, which describes itself as an independent, non-profit accrediting body for home and community-based healthcare organizations, headquartered in San Diego, California. “CHAP” here refers to the Community Health Accreditation Partner; the acronym is also used for unrelated programs, so check the organization name before relying on a result.
The feature that matters most to Medicare-participating providers is deemed authority. CHAP states that it has deemed authority from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine whether organizations meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation, and that home health, hospice and home medical equipment providers can choose deemed status (CHAP, read 2026-11-08).
Who runs it and what it covers
CHAP lists these core accreditation programs on its accreditation page: Home Health, Hospice, Home Care, Palliative Care, DMEPOS (home medical equipment), Home Infusion Therapy, Pharmacy, High-Acuity Care at Home, Community Care Facility Certification and Corporate Accreditation. It also lists specialized certifications offered at no added cost with accreditation (Age-Friendly Care at Home and Pediatric Care at Home), plus Disease Program Certification, CHAP Certified Consultants and CHAP Verified.
CMS maintains a list of approved accrediting organizations; CHAP is one of nine entries on the list as last checked, alongside ACHC, Quad A, AAAHC, CIHQ, DNV, The Joint Commission, NDAC and TCT.
Deemed versus non-deemed surveys
CHAP distinguishes two kinds of survey, and the difference decides who inspects you:
- Deemed survey. It carries CMS authority. CMS accepts CHAP’s findings in lieu of a survey by the state survey agency, which is how an organization achieves Medicare participation through accreditation.
- Non-deemed survey. It is an accreditation evaluation that does not confer deemed status and does not fulfil the CMS requirements. CHAP describes it as suited to organizations that are not in Medicare or Medicaid, or that are Medicare-certified through the state survey agency. CHAP notes that Home Care (non-medical) is often non-deemed.
So accreditation and deemed status are not the same thing: a CHAP accreditation can exist without deemed status, and CHAP’s own article describes the choice as one an organization makes for the programs where it is available. CHAP’s pages do not give a program-by-program list of which accreditations can be deemed, so confirm the specific program with CHAP.
How the process works
CHAP describes a four-step process on its accreditation page:
- Application and Agreement. The organization applies online and chooses a payment option.
- Preparation and Readiness. Online self-study, a readiness checklist and a Final Readiness Call.
- On-Site Survey. A site visitor spends two to five days on interviews, record reviews, home visits and document review.
- Accreditation Determination. A board of review decides; CHAP states that letters are issued within ten business days, or a plan of correction is required.
On cost, CHAP states only that its pricing “includes everything you need” with no annual fees; no amounts are published on that page, so none are given here.
Strengths and limits
- Strength: for eligible programs, deemed status lets the CMS-recognized survey replace the state agency survey (CHAP, 2026-11-08).
- Strength: one accrediting body lists programs from home health and hospice to DMEPOS and home infusion, which may suit organizations with several service lines.
- Limit: non-deemed accreditation does not satisfy CMS requirements, so it does not replace a state survey.
- Limit: accreditation is one step among others. For equipment suppliers, DMEPOS accreditation sits alongside licensing and enrollment; see the DMEPOS accreditation guide and the home medical equipment license guide.
Alternatives
CHAP is one of several accrediting organizations on the CMS approved list. The table shows only what the sources state; it is not a ranking, and which one fits depends on the programs you operate and the payers you bill.
| Accrediting body | On the CMS approved accrediting organization list | CASRAI guide |
|---|---|---|
| CHAP | Yes | This page |
| ACHC | Yes | ACHC accreditation |
| The Joint Commission | Yes | Joint Commission accreditation |
For a hospital-focused accreditor, see the HFAP accreditation guide. Other organizations on the same CMS list are Quad A, AAAHC, CIHQ, DNV, NDAC and TCT.
FAQ
Is CHAP accreditation the same as deemed status?
No. Deemed status results from a deemed survey, which carries CMS authority. A non-deemed CHAP survey is an accreditation evaluation that does not confer deemed status.
Which programs does CHAP accredit?
Home Health, Hospice, Home Care, Palliative Care, DMEPOS, Home Infusion Therapy, Pharmacy, High-Acuity Care at Home, Community Care Facility Certification and Corporate Accreditation, per CHAP’s accreditation page.
Does CHAP charge annual fees?
CHAP states that its pricing includes everything needed, with no annual fees. It publishes no amounts on that page.
How long is the on-site survey?
CHAP says a site visitor spends two to five days on site.
Sources
- CHAP, Accreditation: chapinc.org/accreditation (read 2026-11-08).
- CHAP, Understanding deemed vs. non-deemed accreditation surveys: chapinc.org (read 2026-11-08).
- CMS, Accrediting Organizations list (approved organizations as recorded 2026-08).
