The Joint Commission is offering a new Community-Based Palliative Care (CBPC) certification option for home health & hospices that will launch July 1, 2016. Community-Based Palliative Care (CBPC) Certification will recognize home health and hospice organizations that provide top caliber, community-based palliative care to patients and families in their home (primary place of residence).

Currently accredited providers can add the certification option at their upcoming resurvey or intracycle. Providers not yet accredited can pursue certification at the time of their initial accreditation survey. Surveys will begin on July 1, 2016 and certification is awarded for a three-year period. 

According to The Joint Commission, to be eligible, home health or hospice providers need to have:

• Delivered CBPC services to patient’s in the home (defined as their primary place of residence)
• Served 5 palliative care patients in their home anytime within the previous twelve months
• Have 3 patients actively receiving palliative care services at the time of their on-site survey
• Provide CBPC services 24/7, with on-call services as needed.
• Use clinical practice guidelines to deliver care

You can learn more about the certification requirements here. The Joint Commission is also hosting a webinar on June 1 to discuss the issue.