Which organization accredits rehabilitation facilities?

• A. CMS
• B. Joint Commission
• C. CARF
• D. FDA

Answer: (C)

Rehabilitation facilities are evaluated by an accrediting body that specializes in rehab services, focusing on standards for patient care, safety, and outcomes. CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is the organization that creates and surveys these standards specifically for rehabilitation programs and services. Through CARF, facilities can obtain accreditation by meeting rigorous criteria, signaling to patients, payers, and partners a commitment to quality and continuous improvement across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based rehab settings.

Other options play different roles: CMS is a federal agency that administers Medicare/Medicaid and can recognize certain accreditation bodies for payment purposes, but it is not the accreditor itself. The Joint Commission is another major accreditor that certifies many health care facilities, including some rehab providers, but CARF specializes in rehabilitation, making it the most appropriate answer here. The FDA regulates drugs and medical devices, not accreditation of facilities.