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This final rule adds new requirements and a specified process to address changes of ownership in the sale, transfer, or purchase of assets of Accrediting Organizations (AOs) for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved accreditation programs. This change is intended to provide CMS the ability to receive notice when an AO is undergoing or negotiating a change of ownership (CHOW) and the ability to review the AO’s capability to perform its tasks after a CHOW has occurred, in order to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the approved accreditation program(s) and to minimize risk to patient safety.

Overall Description of Deadline: Per the CMS notice published December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78442), except for certain Medicare payment regulations and certain other statutorily–mandated regulations, we schedule all Medicare final regulations for publication within the 3–year standardized time limit in the current Unified Agenda. We do not intend to delay publishing a Medicare final regulation for 3 years if we are able to publish it sooner.