2.0 POLICY
2.1 Each contractor
is the certifying authority and has participation agreement signatory
authority for Defense Health Agency (DHA) for birthing center applicants
located within their geographical jurisdiction.
2.2 The contractor
is to notify DHA in writing of the appointment and removal of each
person designated by the contractor to sign a birthing center participation
agreement. The appointment or removal notification must include
the individual’s full name as signed, name, title, position, signature sample
(for notice of appointment only) and the effective date of the action.
No more than two individuals will be so authorized by the contractor
concurrently, and the effective date of appointment will be no earlier
than the date of the written notice of appointment to DHA.
2.3 DHA is
direct recipient of each birthing center report of a beneficiary
death or emergency transfer to an acute care facility and is responsible
for taking appropriate action to determine whether a reporting birthing
center should remain an authorized institutional provider.
2.4 Each contractor
will provide timely written notice of the effective date of the
revocation of a birthing center’s authorized provider status to
DHA, to each beneficiary actually admitted to the birthing center
program on the date the revocation notice was issued, and to the
Military Treatment Facility (MTF)/Enhanced Multi-Service Market
(eMSM) Commanding Officer when the birthing center is within a Prime
service area.
3.0 POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS
3.1 Application. A complete application for certification
as an authorized birthing center consists of an application signed
and dated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the center which
provides:
3.1.1 The complete name and street address of the
center;
3.1.2 The mailing address for correspondence;
3.1.3 The name
and title of the Chief Operating Officer (COO);
3.1.4 A routine
and emergency phone number for the COO;
3.1.5 The type of legal organization
of the center;
3.1.6 The name and business address
of each member of the center’s governing body; and
3.1.7 Legible
photocopies of:
• All current operating
licenses;
• The
most recent notice of accreditation;
• The most recent of
each required memorandum of understanding; and
• Such supplementary
information as may be required on a case-by-case basis to determine
the safety and appropriateness of the center’s operation.
3.2 Development.
The certifying authority shall make at least one request for information
missing from an application.
3.3 Decision notice. The certification
decision shall be rendered within 60 days of the receipt by the certifying
authority of a complete application.
3.4 Rejected application. A center
shall be notified in writing that it is no longer considered an applicant
for certification when a pending incomplete application is not made
complete within 60 days of the date of a written notice to the center
of the deficiencies of the center’s application unless the certifying
authority has extended the response time for good reason.
3.5 Denied
application. A center shall be notified in writing of the specific
reason(s) that certification is not granted.
3.6 Certification.
Authorization of a center as an institutional provider shall be
made only after the certifying authority is:
3.6.1 Satisfied that the information
provided in the complete application is true and current, and is
3.6.2 Satisfied
that the applicant complies in all respects with the requirements
of the 32 CFR 199, and is
3.6.3 Satisfied that the applicant
is not otherwise barred from provider status, and
3.6.4 The applicant
has returned a signed participation agreement.
3.7 Provider
identification. Each authorized birthing center will be assigned
a unique identification number regardless of its affiliation with
another authorized provider or group of authorized providers.
3.8 Amended
application. An applicant or authorized center is required to amend
a pending or approved application within 30 days of a change in
any of the information required for application.
3.9 Compliance
verification. The certifying authority shall maintain contemporary
documentation that the currency of each approved birthing center’s
application materials has been verified at least at 24-month intervals
following initial approval as an institutional provider.
3.10 Birthing
Center participation agreement. The text of the participation agreement
for freestanding or institution-affiliated birthing center maternity
care services for beneficiaries is at
Addendum C.
The contractor is not authorized to make any change in the language
of this agreement. Applicant specific changes to this agreement
will not be considered by DHA.