An NPC consultant contacted the ACR and learned that the ACR recommends retaining QC records for one year. However NPC cautions the facility to also keep in mind the requirements of other organizations and regulators who may require longer retention times. For example, state inspectors may visit the facility at intervals ranging from 2 to …
Category Archives: Accreditation (all modalities)
Are we required to do any kind of QC as an accredited facility?
Yes. I won’t go into the details of the mammography program, because it’s known by the mammography techs all too well. The MRI accreditation program has had a QC manual available since the early 2000’s, and the first revision of the CT QC manual was made available on December 1, 2012. Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Accreditation …
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We use a mobile service for PET, MRI, and/or CT. Who has to be accredited, the mobile company or us?
For starters, the accreditation programs involve not just the equipment and image quality, but also personnel qualifications, policies and procedures, quality assurance, etc. Taken together these requirements involve not only the equipment, but the radiologists and the facility as well. So unless the mobile company provides complete turnkey service, including image reading, billing, quality assurance, …
What accrediting bodies have been approved by the CMS to comply with 2012 MIPPA requirements?
CMS has approved three organizations to provide accreditation services to comply with the MIPPA requirements. These are the American College of Radiology (ACR), The Joint Commission (TJC), and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.
The new Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) requires imaging centers who offer certain advanced imaging modalities (CT, MRI, PET, Nuclear) to be accredited by January 1, 2012 in order to be reimbursed under Medicare Part B. Does this apply to hospitals?
No. The requirements apply only to freestanding imaging centers. Off site hospital-based imaging centers are also exempt if they bill through the hospital for the technical component of the exam. For more detailed information, visit the ACR website FAQ’s
We want to become accredited. What is our first step?
The short answer is: Call your NPC consultant! For nuclear medicine or PET accreditation, contact Dave Close or Sharon Long. For CT, MRI, breast MRI, mammography ultrasound, breast ultrasound, or stereotactic breast biopsy accreditation, contact Bob Kobistek. You should also visit the website of the accrediting body, the American College of Radiology, The Joint Commission, …
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