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State-Based Recognitions

Below are highlights of Joint Commission state-based recognitions. To view additional Joint Commission programs recognized and relied upon by states as part of their quality oversight activities click here.

Cardiac Certification Recognitions

Kentucky

In 2022, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) was authorized to recognize hospitals as Level I Comprehensive Cardiac Centers, Level II Primary Heart Attack Centers or Level III Acute Heart Attack Ready hospitals through Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 211.341. On an annual basis by May 15, hospitals must update the Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (KHDSP) regarding their certification status if they wish to be recognized in the Kentucky Statewide System for Heart Attack Response and Treatment.

Michigan

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services enacted regulations to designate cardiac care. In order for eligible hospitals to become designated as either STEMI referring or STEMI receiving, they must independently obtain national certification from a department approved certifying organization. This includes The Joint Commission’s cardiac systems of care portfolio of programs, offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

Missouri

In 2023, Missouri updated their ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Certified Hospital Designation program to recognize Comprehensive Heart Attack Center as a Level II. Missouri maintains three levels in its ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Certified Hospital Designation program including:

  • Level I – Joint Commission Comprehensive Cardiac Center
  • Level II – Joint Commission Comprehensive Heart Attack Center or Primary Heart Attack Center
  • Level III – Joint Commission Acute Heart Attack Ready

Maternal Levels of Care Verification Recognitions

Florida

With one-year of funding provided by the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC) will pay initial site visit cost and first full year annual fee for any Florida maternity hospital willing to apply for and participate in The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program.

Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is collaborating with The Joint Commission to use The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care Verification Program in its designation of levels of maternal care for all eligible Georgia hospitals.

Michigan

Birthing hospitals in Michigan receive funding for a full cycle of Maternal Levels of Care Verification through a State of Michigan-funded grant, administered by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Payer Recognitions

Below are highlights of our payer recognitions. To learn more about how we collaborate with third-party payers, click here.

Aetna Institutes of Quality (IOQ) Spine Surgery

Hospitals are required to achieve certification to participate in the IOQ.  Joint Commission Advanced Certification for Spine Surgery (ACSS) is an approved pathway to meet this requirement for IOQ participation.

Aetna Institutes of Quality (IOQ) Total Hip and Knee Replacement

Hospitals are required to achieve certification to participate in the IOQ.  Joint Commission Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement (THKR) Certification is an approved pathway to meet this requirement for IOQ participation.

Cigna Healthcare

Recognizes Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC) as a voluntary component of its Hospital Centers of Excellence (COE).

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Recognizes Joint Commission Health Care Equity (HCE) Certification as part of the Hospital Quality Incentive Payment (HQIP) program. HCE certification satisfies the Health Equity Patient Safety Bundle measure from the Patient Safety Group in HQIP.

Elevance Health

Added a bonus Healthcare Sustainability measure to its hospital incentive program (Q-HIP®). Hospitals have the opportunity to receive points for the measure and improve their Q-HIP score by earning Sustainable Healthcare Certification from The Joint Commission.

Recognizes Joint Commission Health Care Equity Certification in the health plan’s Quality-In-Sights®: Hospital Incentive Program (Q-HIP) for the states of CA, CO, CT, GA, IN, KY, ME, MO, NV, NH, NY, OH, VA, WI.

Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)

Recognizes seven Joint Commission certifications as part of the health plan’s Pay for Performance (P4P) program for their hospital providers in California. Hospitals can choose from the following certifications: Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC), Advanced Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hospital-based Palliative Care, Inpatient Diabetes, Pneumonia and Sepsis.

Meridian Health Plan of Illinois

Encourages in-network Illinois hospitals to seek Joint Commission Health Care Equity (HCE) Certification and will offer financial reimbursement for a percentage of the annual application and onsite survey fees upon successful completion