Last Updated: June 18, 2009

Office Based Surgery Accreditation: Deadline July 14, 2009

Please be aware of a recent change to MetroPlus Health Plan's Credentialing procedures regarding accreditation requirements for office-based surgery. This change is pursuant to legislation enacted January 14, 2008, at which time section 230-d Office Based Surgery was added to the New York State Public Health Law. Please note the following change:

Providers seeking credentialing privileges for surgical or other invasive procedures performed in outpatient settings and under moderate sedation, deep sedation or under general anesthesia are ineligible unless accreditation for such procedures has been granted by The Joint Commission, the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF), and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).

As of July 14, 2009 the New York State Department of Health requires the accreditation of such practices in which physicians, physician assistants or specialist assistants (providers) perform office based-surgery, and requires the reporting of certain adverse events. A provider who fails to practice in an accredited setting after July 14, 2009 may be guilty of professional misconduct. Additionally, this law is specific to physicians and does not cover procedures performed by dentists and podiatrists who are not regulated by the New York State Department of Health.

Additional information regarding this legislation can found on the New York State Department of Health's website at www.nyhealth.gov/professionals/office-based_surgery.