TJC and CMS News for the Behavioral Healthcare Industry
April 2020
In This Issue:

Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Healthcare!
As our newsletter goes out this month, we're keenly aware that everyone is grappling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we're limiting our coverage this month to information and resources related to that challenge.
 
Our first article provides details on TJC's suspension of survey activities. At this point, that suspension continues through at least May. Our second article covers CMS's suspension of regular surveys and the types of surveys they will actually continue to conduct - important information for our psychiatric hospital clients. Our last article provides some COVID-19 resources specific to the behavioral healthcare industry.
 
We'll continue to keep in touch via our newsletter and the blog on our website. If we can help you with any regulatory readiness needs long distance, just let us know and we'll set that up.
 
Meanwhile, we send a message of deep gratitude and support to our healthcare colleagues out there on the front lines!

Anne Barrins
President/CEO
Looking Forward to Reconnecting!

Right now, most of our usual work with clients is suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. We look forward to resuming regular business once it's safe enough for all of us. Meanwhile, if there's any regulatory readiness issues we can help with, please give us a call and we'll provide long distance support.

1-877-546-7206
Tip of the Month
Check out the excellent resource on the TJC website  Preparing Behavioral Health Organizations for Coronavirus - Joint Commission Webinar Replay.  Plenty of useful tips for minimizing the risk of COVID-19 in BH settings. 
Why Choose
Barrins & Associates?
"We've used Barrins & Associates for both CMS and TJC mock surveys for our hospital. They've done an outstanding job of preparing us for both. Our last TJC survey was two months early. But there were no surprises - thanks to the exhaustive review done by the Barrins & Associates team. They are top notch in the industry!"
 
Donald J. Parker
President and CEO
Belle Meade, New Jersey
The Joint Commission
Suspends Surveys 
The Joint Commission has announced that effective March 16, 2020 they are suspending all "regular surveying." TJC implemented this survey suspension in light of the declaration of a National Emergency regarding the COVID-19 virus.
 
TJC wants to allow healthcare organizations to focus on their response to the pandemic and treat their patients. COO Mark Pelletier said the move is to ensure that "we are not interfering with the work you are doing to prepare and care for your patients during this pandemic."
 
TJC stated that there may be a small number of surveys that proceed in "high risk situations." They will provide more detail soon on those types of surveys.
 
We've already had questions from clients about TJC's move. So, let's address those ...
Continue Reading > 
COVID-19:  CMS Surveys and Top Priority Areas
In light of COVID-19, CMS has suspended routine surveys. CMS wants to allow healthcare organizations to focus on their top priority - responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
However, that suspension applies only to routine survey activity. It doesn't mean all CMS surveys will cease. So, here's an update on CMS survey activity and the types of surveys they will continue to conduct ...
Continue Reading > 
COVID-19:  Behavioral Healthcare Resources
Searching for COVID-19 behavioral healthcare resources? We know as a Behavioral Healthcare organization you're facing some unique challenges with COVID-19 in terms of your patient population and your varied settings.
 
Clearly, you want to continue to provide your much-needed behavioral health services. At the same time, you want to keep your staff and patients safe.
 
So, to assist in that effort, we've identified some COVID-19 behavioral healthcare resources that can help you face the challenge. The following is a brief description of each with links to the resource materials ...
 Continue Reading >       
Barrins & Associates provides Joint Commission and CMS consulting services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry. Our clients include psychiatric hospitals and freestanding Behavioral Healthcare organizations. We specialize in providing Survey Preparation and Continuous Survey Readiness services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry. Barrins & Associates was founded by Anne Barrins who was a Joint Commission surveyor for 13 years.

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