Questions about ACPA Team Approval? Review the below frequently asked questions. Contact Us with additional questions about the team approval process.
The 2024 Team Approval Application is due July 1, 2024.
The application period opens each year in the spring and all teams are encouraged to apply. Renewing ACPA Approved Teams should reapply during the final year of their five-year approval period.
ACPA Team Approval is limited to teams located inside the United States (including US territories) and Canada. ACPA does list international teams as a resource for patients and families across the globe, but these teams are not reviewed by the Commission on Approval of Teams or considered Approved Teams. If you wish to add your international team to the ACPA website, please email teams@acpacares.org.
The Commission approves teams for five years. Approved teams will be invited to reapply during the final year of their approval period.
ACPA Approved Teams must complete an Annual Self-Audit Report to attest to their continued compliance with The Standards for Approved Teams and pay an annual team listing fee.
There is a non-refundable initial application fee of $335.00 in 2024. If a team is approved, this fee will count as the team’s first year listing fee. The 2025 annual listing fee will be $220.00. Team fees cover the administration of the ACPA Team Approval program.
Applications containing Protected Health Information may be charged a $125.00 penalty fee. Please see the below question for details.
For HIPAA compliance purposes, in a process HIPAA calls de-identification, applying teams are required remove all patient identifying information before submitting an application. Identifying information for patients, relatives, and household members includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Names
- Geographic subdivisions smaller than a state (city, school, mailing address, etc)
- Telephone and Fax numbers
- Email addresses
- All birth dates, death dates, admission dates, and discharge dates. The year should remain unredacted.
- Full face photographs
- Social security numbers
- Medical record numbers
- Account numbers
- Any other unique numbers, codes, or characteristics that can be linked to an individual
Applications containing any patient identifying information will not be reviewed and will be returned for redactions. If an application is returned a second time, an additional US$125.00 fee will be due upon resubmission.
Contact the ACPA National Office to update your listing information.
Teams will be contacted by the National Office if additional materials are needed to support the application. Teams will be notified of their approval status in November.
The person with overall responsibility of the administrative unit under which the team operates is the authorizing individual. Some examples:
- President or CEO of the hospital
- Dean of the university school or department
- President or Board Chair of a corporation
Please refer to the ACPA Team Approval Procedures Manual on how to file a formal complaint. Complaints against Approved Teams must:
- Be related to the Standards for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Teams,
- Describe the specific nature of the complaint, and
- Have occurred within two years of the date of the filing of the complaint.
