Deeming Authority for Critical Access Hospitals

This notice announces the CMS decision to conditionally approve, with a probationary period, the Joint Commission's request for continued recognition as a national accreditation program for critical access hospitals (CAHs) seeking to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. DATES: This conditional notice of approval is effective November 21, 2008 through November 21, 2011, with a 180-day probationary period through May 20, 2009.