Authority

NAHAM’s Board of Directors and its Education Committee administer the rules and regulations of the CHAA Recertification Program.

Policy

Certified Healthcare Access Associates (CHAA) are required to participate in the Certification Maintenance Program in order to retain their CHAA credential. Participation means that the individual holding a CHAA credential has engaged in appropriate educational activities on subjects relevant to the field of patient access service and obtained a minimum of 10 contact hours of credit and work 1,500 hours in a position relevant to Access Services during the two-year cycle. Fulfilling those requirements is one way of demonstrating the participant’s efforts to maintain continuing competence in the vital and expanding field of patient access services.

Exempted Status

Individuals certified prior to May 31, 2004 are exempt from the recertification requirements. Recertification shall be optional for CHAAs who became certified prior to May 31, 2004 ; however, employers may require CHAA Recertification as part of an internal re-credentialing process for “exempted CHAAs” which is separate from the NAHAM requirements. Once in the recertification cycle, one may not return to exempt status.

Credential Maintenance Cycle

The credential maintenance cycle is a two-year process.  Persons obtaining their CHAA in EVEN numbered years will be required to recertify in EVEN numbered years. Those receiving their initial CHAA certification in the ODD numbered years are required to recertify in the ODD years.

In order to maintain CHAA status, an individual must:

A.  Work the required number of hours in a position relevant to Access Services (1,500 hours/2 years).
B.  Complete the required number of continuing education units (CEUs).  (10 hours/2 years).
C.  Complete the Contact and Work Hours Summary Form, including the signature of your supervisor confirming the hours worked.
D.  Mail the completed form and the processing fee ($10.00) to:

NAHAM
2025 M Street, NW Suite 800
Washington , DC 20036

E. Candidate recertification information will be audited at random. If you are selected for the audit, you will be asked to submit proof of continuing education hours.

Guidelines for 2006 submission:   

Review Procedure

Upon submission, the Education Committee Chair in cooperation with staff will review the records maintained for credentialed individuals.  If the individual is not in compliance, they will be contacted for additional information.  Those selected for a random audit will be requested to send copies of documents supporting the listed educational programs. Failure to send information requested for the audit may result in loss of certification status. Staff will send a Validation Certificate to the CHAA within two months of the close of the certification cycle.

Inactivation

Credential status will be considered inactive for failure to comply with the recertification program requirements within appropriate time frames.  The individual will be sent a Notice of Inactive Status within two months of the close of the certification cycle.     An inactivated CHAA who wishes to appeal this action MUST notify NAHAM within 30 days. Individuals who have not maintained their credentials may not use the CHAA designation.  NAHAM will report the member as an inactive CHAA if an inquiry is made.

Reactivation

An individual receiving a Notice that they were placed on Inactive Status will have 30 days to re-activate their CHAA by submitting the necessary documentation and the required fees.  In addition to the certification fee there will be a $30.00 processing fee.   

Upon submission, the Education Committee Chair in cooperation with NAHAM will review the records maintained for credentialed individuals.  If the individual is not in compliance, they will be contacted for additional information.   NAHAM will send a Validation Certificate to the CHAA within one (1) month of receipt of all the necessary documentation and the required fees. 

Decertification

The individual who fails to re-activate within 30 days of the Notice of Inactive Status becomes decertified and loses the CHAA status.  In order to become a CHAA again, they will need to initiate the CHAA credentialing process by submitting an application to sit for the examination. 

Appeal Procedure

A request for appeal must be made to NAHAM within 30 days of the Notice of Inactive Status.  The request must clearly state the reason for the appeal.   NAHAM will acknowledge the appeal within ten days of receipt.  The Board of Directors will appoint a Hearing Committee comprised of three members of the NAHAM Education Committee to act as an appeals panel.  The Hearing Committee shall review the submitted documentation and any additional information furnished by the individual. The individual will be entitled to speak to the Hearing Committee via a conference call.  The Hearing Committee shall make a determination by two-thirds (2/3) vote and within 30 days notify the individual in writing of the decision by registered or certified mail. 

If the decision is adverse to the individual, he/she has the right to request a review by the Board of Directors.  A written request for board review shall be made to the board within 30 days after receipt of the Hearing Committee’s decision. The Board of Directors shall review the Hearing Committee’s decision and other pertinent information at its next scheduled meeting. The decision of the Board shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.  The Board’s decision shall be final. If the Board affirms the decision of the Hearing Committee, NAHAM shall issue an order of placement on inactive status in accordance with these standards and notify the individual by registered or certified mail within 15 days. 

Waiver

An individual, who is retired or disabled, may request consideration for a waiver for up to six (6) months from the NAHAM Office.  Documentation concerning the circumstances must be provided.  If employment is resumed, the individual must notify the National Office in order to return to active status. Upon notification, the individual is responsible for meeting the requirements of the recertification program. The individual should notify NAHAM at the end of the six (6) month period if still unable to return to work in Access Services. The request will be forwarded to the Education Committee Chair for review.  A maximum of an additional six months may be granted for illness, military duty, etc.

Guidelines for CHAA Contact Hours:

Activities should address topics pertinent to patient access services, the healthcare field, general management development or interpersonal skills.  All individuals must retain certificate(s) of activities, transcripts, and copies of educational documents submitted in their own personal continuing education file. 

TYPE I.           
Educational Meetings and Inservices:

60 minutes of attendance at an education program equals one (1) contact hour.  Includes:

• Attendance at educational portions of healthcare access management association meetings
• Inservices given by the healthcare facility, professional organization or within the department covering topics such as finance and billing, information management,  medical records, customer service, performance improvement or other topics specifically covered in the CHAA Study Guide
• Annual mandatory training* in: compliance, infection control, OSHA, or age-specific criteria.

Note:  A maximum of six (6) contact hours may be awarded for annual mandatory training topics per two year cycle.

TYPE II.       
College Courses:

To assign this category, you must have participated in formal programs of study at a college or university for academic credit, or have officially audited courses. 

Non-credit academic courses, including extension courses, also fall under this category.

College credit (including correspondence and college-without-walls):

• 1 semester credit = 3 contact hours
• 1 quarter credit = 1 contact hour
• 1 trimester credit = 3 contact hours

Audit Academic Course:

• 1 semester credit = 2 contact hours
• 1 quarter credit = 1 contact hour
• 1 trimester credit = 2 contact hours

Note:  A maximum of six (6) contact hours may be awarded for college course work per two year cycle.

TYPE III:
Self-Study/Publications:

Includes individual self-study and journal clubs, study groups (reporting on or authoring a journal article, book, cassette tape); or relevant material.

Submit a typewritten summary - minimum of 200 words and a copy of the written article - to NAHAM's Education Committee Chair, c/o NAHAM, upon completion of each activity.  Provide your name and address on the summary.  Cite your sources, including the name of the publication and article/topic, speaker or author, date of publication, and time duration of the tape.  A maximum of one (1) contact hour will be given per summary submitted.  Cassette tapes/CD's must be at least 60 minutes in duration. 

Note:  A maximum of six (6) contact hours may be awarded for a successful typewritten summary of each self-study or publication report per two year cycle.

TYPE IV.
Professional Activities:

Includes activities such as holding office, committee participation, or board membership in your local/state healthcare access organization or NAHAM.

Document participation on the Contact Hours Summary Form by noting your level of participation (officer, board member, chairperson, or committee member) in the Activity section, and the name of the organization in the Sponsor section. 

Note:  A maximum of two (2) contact hours will be allowed per two year cycle with one (1) contact hour awarded for each position.

TYPE V.
Other Relevant Continuing Education Activities:

or any other activities that you wish to have considered for credit, (e.g., teaching a course, lecturing at a seminar, etc.), please submit a typewritten summary explaining the activity and your role in it.  Summary must be a minimum of 250 words and should be submitted to NAHAM's Education Committee Chair, c/o NAHAM, upon completion of each activity.