WCHS Receives CMS Certification Number
February 9, 2024
Winnebago, NE – The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System is celebrating a huge milestone in their organizations progress - they have officially received their CMS Certification Number.
A CMS Certification Number comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They are a federal agency the runs the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs. State Survey Agencies conduct initial surveys and periodic resurveys, including complaint surveys, to determine if healthcare providers and suppliers meet the necessary standards for participating in Medicare and/or Medicaid programs. These surveys evaluate the quality of care provided and ensure compliance with regulations found in the 42 Code of Federal Regulations. They also assess efforts to prevent environmental hazards and confirm that responsible personnel are effectively protecting health and safety.
“We have done so much preparation over the last 5 years to be ready for the moment for this actually happened. And when the time finally came for the surveyors to come in April, we were ready,” states WCHS CEO David Edwards. “I’m so proud of this team. They have done so much work – even before I was ever here. It is really something to celebrate.”
What a CMS Certification means for WCHS, is that they can now receive funding from these government programs, furthering their progress in creating a safe place for the Winnebago Tribe and surrounding areas to access quality healthcare. It also means that they adhere to the federal standards that every hospital should follow, assuring the community that they can have confidence in the care they will receive.
“There is a fire lit underneath the WCHS team,” says Jim Rixner, WCHS Board Chairman. “It is obvious that their relentless efforts to grow and prove the past wrong will only continue to pay off. This organization has taken charge of healthcare in Winnebago, something the community has deserved for a long time. This is a huge step for building trust in the future of WCHS.”