New Medicare Imaging Accreditation Requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new Medicare accreditation requirement?
Is accreditation required for all imaging services?
What if my facility is already accredited through IAC or
ACR?
Who are the accrediting bodies?
What criteria will be reviewed by accrediting bodies?
What is the ACC’s position on accreditation?
What is the new Medicare accreditation
requirement?
The recently enacted “Medicare Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act of 2008” (MIPPA) requires that as of January 1,
2012, suppliers furnishing the technical component (“TC”)
of advanced imaging services must be accredited by a designated accreditation
organization for purposes of reimbursement.
Is accreditation required for all imaging services?
The new law requires accreditation for advanced diagnostic imaging
services, which is defined to include MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine/PET.
It does not apply to X-ray, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy.
What if my facility is already accredited through
IAC or ACR?
Facilities that are accredited prior to the deadline set in the new
law will meet the requirement if the accreditation is through an accreditation
organization designated by the Secretary of HHS. IAC and ACR are expected
to be designated as accrediting bodies.
Who are the accrediting bodies?
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will designate accrediting
bodies by January 1, 2010. The Secretary is required to consider certain
factors in designating accreditation organizations and in reviewing
and modifying the list of accreditation organizations. The factors include
the following:
- The ability of the organization to conduct timely reviews of accreditation
applications;
- Whether the organization has established a process for the timely
interpretation of new advanced diagnostic imaging services into the
organization’s accreditation program;
- Whether the organization uses random site visits, site audits,
or other strategies for ensuring accredited suppliers maintain adherence
to the criteria for accreditation;
- The ability of the organization to take into account the capacities
of suppliers located in rural areas;
- Whether the organization has established reasonable fees to be
charged to suppliers applying for accreditation; and
- Any other factors the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
What criteria will be reviewed by accrediting
bodies?
The accreditation organizations will evaluate facilities based on criteria
that include:
- Standards for qualifications of medical personnel who are not physicians
and who furnish the TC of advanced diagnostic imaging services;
- Standards for qualifications and responsibilities of medical directors
and supervising physicians, including standards that recognize the
specific considerations for the evaluation of medical directors and
supervising physicians;
- Procedures to ensure that equipment used in furnishing the TC of
advanced diagnostic imaging services meets performance specifications;
- Standards that require the supplier have procedures in place to
ensure the safety of persons who furnish the TC of advanced diagnostic
imaging services and individuals to whom such services are furnished;
- Standards that require the establishment and maintenance of a quality
assurance and quality control program by the supplier that is adequate
and appropriate to ensure the reliability, clarity, and accuracy of
the technical quality of diagnostic images produced by such supplier;
and
- Any other standards or procedures as determined appropriate by
the Secretary.
What is the ACC’s position on accreditation?
View ACC’s position
on imaging accreditation.
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