IAC
Newsletter
In Preparation For MIPPA
IAC AND CMS DISCUSS CMS' DESIGNATION OF ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS
Winter 2009
In October, IAC Chairman Rita Shugart, RN, RVT, and senior staff members met with staff from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss CMS' designation of accreditation organizations, as mandated within the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).
As previously reported, MIPPA, which became law on July 15, 2008, requires providers of advanced diagnostic imaging services, inclusive of Nuclear Medicine, MR, CT, and PET, to obtain accreditation by 2012, as a condition for reimbursement. In addition, the legislation establishes a two-year voluntary program to collect data regarding physician compliance with appropriateness criteria in order to determine the appropriateness of advanced diagnostic imaging services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.
As stipulated within the legislation, accrediting bodies seeking designation by CMS must document compliance with the following guidelines:
Ability of the organization to:
1. conduct timely reviews of accreditation applications
2. have an established process for the timely interpretation of new advanced diagnostic imaging services
3. use random site visits, site audits, or other strategies for ensuring accredited suppliers maintain adherence to the criteria for accreditation
4. take into account the capacities of suppliers located in rural areas
5. establish reasonable fees to be charged to suppliers applying for accreditation
The October meeting provided the IAC with an opportunity to document IAC's policies and procedures and statistical information as they correlate to the required guidelines. At the conclusion of the meeting, the IAC was confident that the organization will meet all of the CMS compliance requirements.
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