Annapolis, MD / PRWeb / June 18, 2015—RadSite™, a leading accreditation agency for diagnostic imaging quality and an official accrediting body as designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announces that its most recent revisions to the MIPPA Accreditation Program standards, v2.2, have been approved by CMS and are now available to incoming applicants.
The MIPPA Accreditation Program (MAP) allows providers who bill CMS for CT, MRI, PET and SPECT procedures to apply for accreditation as required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008. Similar to other accreditation programs, the MAP program includes a review of personnel, policies and procedures, as well as sample clinical images and phantom studies.
In addition to these requirements, the newly enhanced standards include acceptable certification options for technologists, such as the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). RadSite also approved the Nuclear Associates/Fluke phantom as a new option for providers to use when submitting physics materials for PET and SPECT systems, and now allows for MR scientists to perform medical physics testing for MRI systems.
“We gathered input from applicants who have applied for accreditation with RadSite over the past year,” said Dr. William W. Orrison, RadSite’s Chief Medical Officer and chair of the Standards Committee. “Because we offer a very hands-on approach when working with applicants, we were able to gain a clear understanding of what the needs and wants are of both consumers and imaging providers when it comes to accreditation. Feedback from providers operating all types of advanced diagnostic imaging modalities across all areas of the country was incorporated into these revisions.”
Lastly, RadSite’s application includes a new section that addresses XR-29, also known as the NEMA/MITA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association/Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance) Smart Dose standards, so that providers with CT imaging services can demonstrate they meet CMS requirements to avoid reimbursement reductions.
“RadSite is excited to be able to offer these expanded standards to better serve the needs of its applicants,” said Garry Carneal, chair of RadSite’s Advisory Board. “Our program helps ensure that providers meet the highest standards of quality and safety so that patients who visit a RadSite-accredited facility can feel confident they are getting the best level of care. The release of version 2.2 provides even more ways for providers to demonstrate that they are following industry best-practices.”
As always, RadSite is continuing to use its accreditation program as an avenue to promote its educational mission. This includes allowing providers a corrective action period to remedy any deficiencies and improve their processes rather than failing outright, as well as offering constructive feedback through consultative on-site visits that can help all applicants take gradual steps to better their quality.
This latest revision of the standards has undergone a rigorous review process from the RadSite Standards Committee and Advisory Board. An external panel of experts from CMS also evaluated the enhancements to RadSite’s quality evaluation metrics and formally approved them on March 11, 2015.
To request a copy of the MIPPA Accreditation Program Standards v2.2, please visit http://www.radsitequality.com/cms-accreditation-requirments.
# # #
About RadSite™ (www.RadSiteQuality.com)
Founded in 2005, RadSite’s mission is to promote quality-based practices for imaging systems across the United States and its territories. In addition, RadSite is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an official accreditation organization under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008. RadSite’s programs help assess, track and report imaging trends in an effort to enhance imaging procedures and outcomes. RadSite also offers educational programs, publishes issue briefs and underwrites research on a complimentary basis to raise awareness of patient safety issues and to promote best practices. The organization is governed by an independent board and committee system, which is open to a wide-range of volunteers to ensure transparency and accountability. To learn more about RadSite, please contact us at (443) 440-6007 or info@radsitequality.com.