CMS accreditation could crimp in-office self-referral
DiagnosticImaging.com
Publication Date: November 02, 2009
As I write this column, the Obama administration and the Congress are intensively discussing the elements of healthcare reform legislation. My guess is that most radiologists are not looking forward to either the specific cuts targeted at imaging being considered by Congress, or cuts contained in the proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule.
Nevertheless, one aspect of the proposed new fee schedule rule, if CMS tailors it correctly, could have a dramatic and positive benefit, and could significantly reduce physician in-office self-referral.
That part of the new fee schedule proposal is the new imaging accreditation rule. Providing that CMS actually sets out clear requirements for the general supervising physician (medical director) at an accredited imaging facility and makes it clear that practices must bill using the name and national provider identification number of that same general supervising physician, this could be a major reform!
Click here to read the full article.