The Joint Commission recently extended the permitted timeframe for hospital medical staff credentialing from two to three years. Health Care Law partner Karen Owens broke down the change and the effects of a three-year credential cycle in her recent presentation at the Arizona Association of Medical Staff Services’(AAMSS) Fall Conference. Karen explained that 3-year credentialing can help streamline and enhance quality-assessment processes, analyzed the applicable regulations and interpretive guidelines, and highlighted a number of operational issues involved in three-year credentialing, including CMS’ position, the mechanics of switching over, and risk management considerations. Karen represents health care systems, hospitals, clinics, and other providers in matters of medical staff credentialing and peer review, medical staff structures, bylaws and confidentiality, as well as National Practitioner Data Bank, state professional board,...