Q&A: According to the Joint Commission, is verification of DEA certificate mandatory?
A: With regard to Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certificates, The Joint Commission standards state that the organized medical staff must evaluate any challenges to any registration as well as the voluntary and involuntary relinquishment of any registration. The standards are silent regarding the specific methodology that must be used in complying with this requirement. One source for this information may be through the applicant response to questions regarding any challenges to registration (state, district, or federal) or the voluntary and involuntary relinquishment of such registration.
This information also may be obtained or verified through viewing copies of current DEA and Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) certificates or through contact with the issuing body or a recognized verification agency with equivalent information such as the National Practitioner Data Bank, National Technical Information Service, American Medical Association Masterfile, or AOIA Official Osteopathic Physician Profile Report.
Editor's note: Questions and topic suggestions can be e-mailed to CVU at mcoler@hcpro.com. We'll find an expert or resource to tackle the credentialing or verification issues that are challenging you.
