The Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) is a national, independent, U.S. not-for-profit accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. In 1965, CHAP was the first to recognize the need and value for accreditation in community-based care. CHAP is the oldest national, community-based accrediting body with more than 9,000 agencies currently accredited nationwide.
Through "deeming authority" granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in 1992, CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice, and home medical equipment services to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards.
Created as a joint venture between the American Public Health Association and the National League for Nursing (NLN). CHAP became a separately incorporated, non-profit subsidiary of the NLN in 1988, under the CHAP name. In 1992, CHAP was granted deeming authority for home care by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In 1999 it received deeming authority for hospices. CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice, and home medical equipment services, to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards.