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 shall 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 The contractor shall 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 Market Director/Military
Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) Director when the birthing center
is within a Prime Service Area (PSA).
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 calendar
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 calendar 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 calendar 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.