Reimbursement News
NOPR Update
Changes are underway regarding Medicare's coverage of PET imaging under the National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR). On January 6, 2009, CMS proposed significant changes to current coverage. Under the proposal, Medicare will provide coverage on a routine basis for many of the indications now reimbursed under NOPR. However, other indications would be covered only under a successor Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) program which likely will be different than the current NOPR program.
Read more about the successor Coverage with Evidence Development program on the NOPR web page.
View the proposed CMS coverage changes.
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Accreditation
Accreditation Update
In diagnostic imaging, accreditation programs have emerged with both Medicare and private insurers as key initiatives to advance the quality and safety of imaging studies.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) became law on July 15, 2008 and requires providers of advanced diagnostic imaging services, inclusive of Nuclear Medicine, MR, CT and PET, to obtain accreditation by 2012, as a condition for Medicare reimbursement.
UnitedHealthcare requires outpatient imaging sites and providers that bill on a CMS/HICF 1500 or its electronic equivalent to complete and submit an application to obtain accreditation. These requirements apply to CT, MRI, PET, nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography procedures and this policy will become a condition for reimbursement from UnitedHealthcare in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Visit the UnitedHealthcare web page devoted to imaging accreditation and see if your center is listed as an Accredited Imaging Provider.
Visit the Accreditation Tool Kit on MI LifeNet.
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ICANL Nuclear Cardiology Case Selection Changes
Effective January 1, 2009, those laboratories applying for accreditation solely in nuclear cardiology will no longer be required to follow the random selection criteria when submitting radionuclide myocardial perfusion (RMPI) case studies. Laboratories will be required to submit five (5) complete RMPI studies. In addition to the five cases, laboratories will be required to submit two abnormal reports (without any images or clinical data) from each interpreting physician listed in the application. All studies and reports should reflect the high quality of studies performed in the laboratory.
Read more about these new case selection changes on the ICANL website.
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IAC offers Accreditation on Demand
The IAC has created a series of webcasts entitled Accreditation on Demand. Now you can learn about accreditation at your leisure.
Visit Accreditation on Demand
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Nuclear technologists need to lead facility accreditation efforts
With the increasing scrutiny on image quality and the need for all U.S. facilities to be nationally accredited, nuclear medicine technologists must be able to provide the highest quality studies to its providers for purposes of certification and reimbursement, according to a presentation at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) conference.
Read more
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Industry News
Growth rate for PET procedure volume slows to single digits
Growth in PET and PET/CT procedure volume in the U.S. slowed to a single-digit rate in 2008 compared to 2007, as opposed to the double-digit annual growth rates the modality enjoyed before 2007, according to a new study published by market research firm IMV Medical Information Division of Des Plaines, IL.
Read more
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Coming Soon!
Innovations ’09 for Imaging Professionals
Innovations ’09 for Imaging Professionals is an annual education and networking event created exclusively for medical imaging professionals. This two-day innovative educational symposium is designed to provide you with educational opportunities to improve your skills, learn new techniques, and utilize new technologies and tools to maximize the use of your imaging equipment.
July 16-18, 2009
JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes
Orlando, Florida
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