CARF Compliance & OhioMHAS Certification

On July 4, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 33 into law, setting new standards for behavioral health providers across the state. This legislation significantly impacts certified community behavioral health providers, private psychiatric hospitals, and residential Class 1, 2, and 3 facilities.

As of October 3, 2023, any new behavioral health provider in Ohio must first obtain national accreditation for their applicable services before applying for state certification through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).

Source: OhioMHAS. House Bill 33 Requirements for Certification. mha.ohio.gov

What Is CARF Accreditation?

• CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is one of three nationally recognized accrediting bodies accepted by OhioMHAS. The others include:
• COA (Council on Accreditation for Children & Family Services)
• TJC (The Joint Commission)

CARF’s standards promote person-centered care, risk management, quality improvement, and data-informed decision-making.

Source: CARF International. About CARF Accreditation. carf.org

Why This Matters for Ohio Providers

National accreditation now serves as “evidence of compliance” during the OhioMHAS certification process. While it does not replace licensure, it streamlines the certification process for each site, service, and program a provider operates.

“National accreditation does not replace state licensure but serves as evidence of compliance…”
— OhioMHAS Source: mha.ohio.gov

This means that behavioral health providers must be proactive in building systems, documentation processes, and security practices that meet national standards, not just local ones.

How Fortis Cyber Solutions Can Support Your Accreditation Journey

Achieving CARF accreditation is a complex, multi-step process, and Fortis Cyber Solutions is here to help you succeed. We specialize in cybersecurity and IT managed services for healthcare organizations and have helped many behavioral health providers prepare for and pass their national accreditation audits.

Here’s how we support you:

• Compliance Readiness Audits to prepare for CARF or Joint Commission surveys
• Secure IT Infrastructure aligned with HIPAA and industry-specific requirements
• Documentation and EHR optimization to meet record-keeping and reporting standards
• Policy development & risk mitigation strategies that align with national accrediting body requirements

Whether you’re just starting or are actively preparing for accreditation, our tailored support helps you meet every requirement confidently and on time without being overwhelmed.

Ohio’s push for national accreditation is a game-changer for behavioral health providers. CARF, COA, and TJC are essential to operating in Ohio under the updated legislation. Providers must be proactive, prepared, and compliant.

Let Fortis Cyber Solutions be your strategic partner as you pursue CARF accreditation and OhioMHAS certification. We’re proud to support behavioral health organizations in delivering secure, high-quality care.

Need help getting CARF-compliant? Contact us today at fortis-cyber.com.