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.