2.12.10 – CMS: Only physician fee schedule services require advanced imaging accreditation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently confirmed hospitals that they do not have to become accredited to furnish the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services. Some hospitals began to query CMS about the issue after the agency published a January 26, 2010 notice approving three organizations to accredit suppliers of the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services under the Medicare physician fee schedule. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 requires these suppliers to become accredited by a designated accreditation organization by Jan. 1, 2012. The requirement does not apply to advanced imaging services paid under Medicare’s hospital inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems.