The Law
Suppliers furnishing the technical component (TC) of advanced diagnostic imaging services must become accredited by a CMS designated accreditation organization by January 1, 2012 for Medicare payment to be made under the physician fee schedule.
Who must be accredited?
- Suppliers furnishing the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services, i.e. MRI, CT, PET and nuclear medicine procedures, and
- Procedures are supplied to Medicare beneficiaries on an outpatient basis, and
- Procedures are billed to Medicare under the physician fee schedule.
NOTE: This regulation excludes hospital-based suppliers of advanced imaging services who bill the technical component of Medicare Part B services under the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) or Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS).
Who can accredit these providers?
CMS has designated The Joint Commission, along with two other accrediting bodies, to accredit these providers. Criteria used by CMS to approve accrediting organizations included:
- Ability to conduct timely review of applications;
- Integration of new imaging services into the accreditation program;
- Use of onsite visits as part of the accreditation process;
- Addressing the capacities of imaging suppliers in rural areas;
- Reasonable fees.
What quality standards will need to be met?
Standards are not exclusive to, but would focus on, the following attributes:
- Qualifications of medical personnel and medical directors;
- Quality assurance and quality control programs to ensure the safety, reliability, clarity and accuracy of diagnostic imaging.
In order to meet CMS’ requirements for advanced imaging, The Joint Commission has added three new elements of performance (EPs) to the Environment of Care (EC) chapter.
For more information:
* Requires Adobe Reader