Providence Heart Transplant Program Receives CMS Certification

PORTLAND, Ore. — Providence Heart Institute’s heart transplant program, the largest of its kind in Oregon, has received certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The certification comes following a rigorous five-day review of the program by the Oregon Health Authority. The review looked at the outcomes of 15 heart transplants performed at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center over the past 11 months.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the decision. The reviewers were impressed with extensive infrastructure that has been created to support this program,” said Dan Oseran, M.D., executive medical director of Providence Heart Institute. “This is a reflection of the team’s commitment to deliver safe and reliable care for these vulnerable patients.”

Heart transplant programs must perform ten transplants before they can apply for CMS certification – which is critical for reimbursement as many patients are government insured.

Providence Heart Institute announced its intent to start a transplant program in March of 2019 after nearly 400 heart failure patients who previously received care at OHSU transferred their care to Providence. Providence Heart Institute performed its first transplant in July 2020.

Known across the United States and internationally, Providence Heart Institute is the largest provider of cardiac services in Oregon.

“We are honored to be able to offer safe and reliable life-saving services to our community’s heart failure patients and their families,” said Dr. Oseran.