New supervision requirements for diagnostic services provided to hospital outpatients could threaten the ability of many hospitals to meet Medicare requirements for outpatient tests. The rules took effect July 1.

Adopted by CMS under the 2010 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System's (HOPPS) final rule, the new standards come in a transmittal intended to further explain HOPPS physician supervision requirements. However, the transmittal may place unwarranted burdens on radiologists and ultimately affect Medicare patients' access to hospital outpatient diagnostic services. If construed literally, many hospitals, particularly small or rural hospitals, may have considerable difficulty meeting the Medicare physician supervision requirements for outpatient tests.