What AAAHC does

AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It is the leading U.S. accreditor of ambulatory health care organizations, operating a three-year, 1,095-day accreditation cycle built around its 1095 Engage platform. The organization grants CMS Deemed Status for ambulatory surgery centers and Medicare Advantage HMOs/PPOs, holds ISQua accreditation through 2028, and provides accreditation, certification, education, and quality improvement services to ambulatory surgery centers, primary care clinics, federally qualified health centers, health plans, and government health facilities.

AAAHC's product portfolio centers on the 1095 platform family — 1095 Engage for accreditation workflow management (pre-survey, survey, post-survey), 1095 Learn for education and benchmarking, and 1095 Govern for board governance (powered by BoardEffect). Core offerings include Ambulatory Accreditation, Medicare Deemed Status Accreditation, Health Plan and FEHB Accreditation, Advanced Orthopaedic Certification (Total Joint Replacement and Complex Spine), and Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification. The Quality Institute publishes v44 Standards handbooks, clinical toolkits, benchmarking studies, and the annual Quality Roadmap and Kershner QI Awards. In June 2026, AAAHC launched Bernie, an AI-powered accreditation assistant operated by third-party partner BettyBot, LLC, providing real-time client guidance drawn from AAAHC's proprietary knowledge base.

Revenue is generated through accreditation and certification fees on a recurring three-year cycle, publication sales (handbooks $275-$480, toolkits $10-$12, benchmark reports $85, certificates $45), education program fees from the Achieving Accreditation conference series and 1095 Learn LMS, and government contracts with the US Coast Guard, Indian Health Service, and HRSA-funded FQHCs. Distribution is primarily direct via the 1095 Engage platform, an e-commerce store at store.aaahc.org, and Achieving Accreditation events held multiple times annually in both virtual and onsite formats.

Name

AAAHC

Legal name

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.

Website

https://aaahc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

AAAHC is a non-profit founded in 1979 that accredits U.S. ambulatory health care organizations through a three-year cycle using its 1095 Engage platform. It serves surgery centers, primary care clinics, health plans, and government facilities via accreditation, certification, education, and an AI assistant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Accreditation Services

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

Keywords

• Ambulatory accreditation services
• Healthcare quality certification
• Medicare deemed status surveys
• Ambulatory surgery center standards
• Healthcare quality improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

Skokie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Fees: Organizations pay application and survey fees for accreditation services covering ambulatory care, Medicare Deemed Status, health plans, and international programs. The three-year accreditation cycle generates recurring revenue from initial and reaccreditation surveys.
2. Certification Fees: Additional certification programs including Advanced Orthopaedic Certification (Total Joint Replacement, Complex Spine) and Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification, offered as add-on to accreditation.
3. Publication Sales: Sales of Standards handbooks (v44) in print and digital formats ranging from $275-$480, toolkits at $10-$12 each, benchmarking study reports at $85, and certificates of accreditation at $45.
4. Education Programs: Revenue from Achieving Accreditation conferences (virtual and onsite) and 1095 Learn course registrations for education on standards, survey readiness, and quality improvement methodologies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AAAHC accredits and certifies ambulatory health care organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, primary care and community health centers, health plans, and international organizations, against nationally recognized standards on a three-year (1,095-day) cycle. It also offers specialty certifications such as Advanced Orthopaedic Certification (Total Joint Replacement, Complex Spine) and Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification, supported by the 1095 Engage platform, 1095 Learn LMS, the Bernie AI assistant, v44 Standards handbooks, toolkits, benchmarking studies, and the Achieving Accreditation conference series. CMS Deemed Status and government contracts with the U.S. Coast Guard, Indian Health Service, and HRSA further anchor the offering.

Product overview

AAAHC operates as a platform-plus-modules organization providing accreditation and certification services for ambulatory health care organizations. The core offering centers on 1095 Engage, an accreditation management platform that supports organizations throughout the 1,095-day (three-year) accreditation cycle, complemented by 1095 Learn for education and 1095 Govern for governance. AAAHC offers multiple accreditation programs (Ambulatory, Medicare Deemed Status, Health Plan, FEHB) and certifications (Advanced Orthopaedic, Patient-Centered Medical Home). Educational offerings include the flagship Achieving Accreditation conference program and Bernie, an AI-powered assistant. The Quality Institute provides supporting publications including v44 Standards handbooks, clinical toolkits, benchmarking study reports, and the annual Quality Roadmap. A prestigious Kershner QI Award recognizes excellence in quality improvement among accredited organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1095 Engage: Accreditation management system for clients to manage their accreditation journey, submit change notifications, and access resources throughout the three-year accreditation cycle.
• 1095 Learn
• Bernie
• Quality Institute
• Kershner QI Award

Products and services

• Ambulatory Accreditation Core accreditation program for ambulatory health care organizations, evaluating compliance with AAAHC Standards on organizational structure, systems, and patient care delivery; includes Initial, Reaccreditation, Interim, Random (unannounced 9-30 months), and Discretionary surveys on a three-year cycle.
• Medicare Deemed Status Accreditation Accreditation program for ambulatory surgery centers and Medicare Advantage HMOs/PPOs seeking CMS Deemed Status recognition, including review of applicable Medicare requirements.
• Health Plan Accreditation Accreditation program for health plans including HMOs and PPOs participating in Medicare Advantage programs.
• Health Plan FEHB Accreditation Accreditation program for health plans seeking Federal Employee Health Benefits program recognition.
• Advanced Orthopaedic Certification Specialty certification for ambulatory surgery centers demonstrating excellence in orthopaedic procedures, including Total Joint Replacement and Complex Spine certifications.
• Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification Certification program for primary care organizations demonstrating patient-centered, comprehensive, accessible, and continuous care delivery.
• 1095 Engage AAAHC's accreditation management platform providing organizations tools to manage their accreditation journey across pre-survey preparation, survey process, post-survey activities, and ongoing change notification submission throughout the three-year cycle.
• 1095 Learn Learning management system offering education on AAAHC Standards, accreditation preparation, and quality improvement through webinars, benchmarking studies, and courses for ambulatory health care professionals.
• Bernie AI Assistant AI-powered accreditation assistant built from AAAHC's trusted body of knowledge including Standards handbooks, policies, educational resources, and FAQs; provides real-time guidance for ambulatory care organizations to support continuous readiness throughout the accreditation cycle.
• Achieving Accreditation Flagship educational conference program featuring expert-led sessions on AAAHC Standards, survey readiness, and quality improvement; offered in virtual and onsite formats throughout the year.
• v44 Standards Handbooks Standards handbooks available for Ambulatory Health Care, Medicare Deemed Status, Health Plans, FEHB Health Plans, and Advanced Orthopaedics Certification, with print ($315-$425), digital ($275-$315), and combo (up to $480) formats.
• Quality Institute Toolkits Educational toolkits covering Credentialing & Privileging, Emergency Drills, Safe Injection Practices, Medication Reconciliation, Pain Management, Allergy Documentation, Antimicrobial Stewardship, and Sleep Apnea; $10.00 per toolkit (Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit $12.00).
• Benchmarking Study Reports Research reports based on data submitted by accredited organizations covering clinical topics including Safe Injection Practices, Hand Hygiene, Emergency Preparedness, Cataract Extraction, Allergy Documentation, Colonoscopy Practices, and Medication Reconciliation; $85.00 per report.
• Quality Roadmap Annual report informed by AAAHC survey data highlighting common deficiencies and providing targeted insights to help organizations proactively address areas for improvement; available in Comprehensive and Primary Care editions.
• US Coast Guard Webinar Program Three annual educational webinars delivered to US Coast Guard health center personnel under AAAHC's government contract, supporting mandatory AAAHC accreditation across USCG health centers; live with 30-day on-demand access.
• Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement Award Annual award program recognizing AAAHC-accredited organizations demonstrating excellence and measurable success in improving quality of care, patient safety, and operational performance through innovative QI initiatives across surgical/procedural and primary care settings.
• Accreditation with Dental Home Accreditation program for primary care organizations that includes Dental Home recognition, supporting dental and integrated oral-health ambulatory practices.
• International Accreditation Accreditation services offered to ambulatory health care organizations outside the United States, leveraging AAAHC's ISQua accreditation extending through 2028.
• Certificates of Accreditation and Certification Official certificates confirming accreditation or certification status across all AAAHC programs, including Ambulatory, Medicare Deemed Status, Health Plans, FEHB, Medical Home, Dental Home, and Advanced Orthopaedic certifications; $45.00 each, with one complimentary certificate provided upon successful accreditation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kershner QI Award winners demonstrate measurable improvements including 75% reduction in missed documentation, 92% improvement in OR cleaning effectiveness, 100% reduction in surgical site infections, and 124% increase in vaccination rates

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BettyBot, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationOperates AAAHC's AI chatbot 'Bernie' under a Master Agreement. Provides AI-powered accreditation assistant built from AAAHC's body of knowledge including Standards handbooks, policies, and FAQs. Processes user inputs to provide real-time guidance for continuous readiness throughout the 1,095-day accreditation cycle.
• Constant Contact, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmail and digital marketing services provider and CRM vendor. Sends communications to AAAHC contacts at AAAHC's direction and on AAAHC's behalf. Supports lead generation and customer relationship management for AAAHC marketing activities.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)coreOthersAAAHC has been granted 'Deemed Status' by CMS for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and HMOs/PPOs participating in Medicare Advantage. Allows AAAHC surveys to substitute for Medicare certification inspections.
• US Coast GuardcoreOthersAAAHC provides mandatory accreditation services to USCG health centers. Hosts three annual webinars for USCG members with live presentations and 30-day on-demand access.
• Indian Health Service (IHS)coreOthersAAAHC provides accreditation services to IHS and Urban Indian Health centers under government contract since 2008. Includes technical assistance such as readiness assessment surveys.
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)coreOthersAAAHC provides accreditation services to HRSA-funded Look-Alike and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) under HRSA Accreditation Initiative contracts since 2008. Includes technical assistance and readiness assessment surveys.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• URAC: Independent, nonprofit healthcare accreditor offering health plan, utilization management, and specialty program accreditation, competing in the health plan accreditation space.
• The Joint Commission: The largest U.S. healthcare accreditation body, holding CMS Deemed Status for hospitals and ambulatory organizations including ASCs. Directly competes with AAAHC in ambulatory surgery and primary care accreditation markets.
• Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC): A nonprofit accreditation body offering programs for ambulatory care, home health, and specialty settings with CMS Deemed Status, directly competing for ambulatory clients.
• Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP): A CMS-deemed accreditation organization for hospitals, ASCs, and clinical laboratories, providing overlapping ambulatory accreditation services to AAAHC's target market.
• NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance): Leading health plan accreditation organization whose programs (HEDIS, health plan accreditation) overlap with AAAHC's health plan and FEHB accreditation offerings.
• Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP): Independent, nonprofit accrediting body with CMS Deemed Status focused on home and community-based care organizations, including FQHCs overlapping with AAAHC's primary care segment.

Emerging players

• CARF International: International accreditor focused on aging services, medical rehabilitation, and behavioral health, with limited but growing overlap in ambulatory and community health accreditation.
• The Compliance Team: CMS-approved accreditor offering accreditation for ambulatory care, home health, and DMEPOS providers, representing a smaller but directly competitive alternative to AAAHC.

Regional players

• Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ): California-based nonprofit providing ambulatory surgery center and medical group accreditation with CMS Deemed Status, primarily competing with AAAHC in the western U.S.

Others

• AAHRPP (Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs): Specialized nonprofit accreditor of human research protection programs, adjacent to AAAHC's quality and accreditation mission but focused on research rather than care delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/accreditationassn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2430500
• Xx.com/aaahc_quality

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AAAHC