NATSAP’s Accreditation Requirement: What You Need to Know

If you’re a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), you may have heard that NATSAP is requiring all its members to be nationally accredited after June 30, 2023.
NATSAP originally announced the requirement at its 2020 Annual Conference. With this requirement, NATSAP hopes to improve program safety and effectiveness, build trust in the association, and strengthen its authority in the industry. In addition, the Family First Prevention Services Act, signed into law in February 2018, requires all programs that receive public funding to be nationally accredited.
What counts as accreditation? NATSAP will accept accreditation of its members from the following bodies:
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
The Joint Commission
Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
Council on Accreditation (CoA), now known as Social Current after a merger with the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
DNV (particularly NIAHO Hospital Accreditation)
The Teaching-Family Association (TFA)
Keep in mind, accreditation can take more than a year to complete, so NATSAP members should get started sooner rather than later.
It may sound like a hassle, but behavioral health and addiction treatment providers have a lot to gain from accreditation. Providers receive guidance on how to operate their facilities, and it tells consumers that the provider has met specific, rigorous standards.
The exact process of accreditation will vary depending on the organization you choose. Here are some ways to prepare for the accreditation process, no matter which accrediting body you pursue.
1. Choose an accrediting body that is appropriate for your organization.
Make sure the accreditation suits your unique program. For example, TFA involves the use of a specific, trauma-informed model of treatment. CARF focuses on residential organizations that serve both physical and behavioral needs.
2. Be prepared for fees.
While accreditation is much more than a financial decision, it does require an investment. Be sure to take budgetary needs into account, and make sure you are aware of all initial and yearly fees involved.
3. Understand your organization and its mission.
A significant part of accreditation involves writing policies to guide your organization’s clinical and business decisions. This requires a solid understanding of your organization’s overall philosophy, goals, client base, treatment approaches, and more.
4. Focus on your outcomes.
As U.S. behavioral healthcare moves to more value-based models, client outcomes are increasingly important. For example, in 2018, the Joint Commission required its member organizations to use a standardized tool or instrument to measure and track outcomes of care and services. As you prepare for accreditation, make sure you understand which outcomes the accrediting body requires and how to best measure them.
5. Document everything.
During the accreditation process, the accrediting body will conduct audits to ensure your organization is following its standards. CARF requires an internal examination, then selects a team of practitioners to conduct an on-site survey. The Joint Commission’s process begins with the on-site survey, including a review of documents. In preparation, make sure every step of the client’s process is documented, and that your clinicians take detailed notes.
When it comes to accreditation, make sure your EHR solution is a help, not a hassle. BestNotes EHR was built specifically for behavioral health and addiction treatment providers, with clinical documentation that automatically updates to the latest Joint Commission and CARF requirements. Contact BestNotes today to learn more about how we can help you follow accreditation standards!