Deadline Extended For ACR Fellowship Application |
The ACR has extended the deadline for applicants to file for ACR fellowship consideration. The CRS needs to receive completed applications by 5/31 so that they can be reviewed for consideration. The fellowship application is available on the ACR website at www.acr.org. Click membership-member services. Applications considered this year by the ACR will be awarded in 2011.
Congressional Leaders Request GAO Study on Impact of Self Referral Arrangements |
On April 16th leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to GAO requesting that they study the extent and effect of self referral arrangements for advanced imaging and radiology oncology services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. This comes on the heels of more information from MEDPAC on the impact of these relationships on the utilization of advanced imaging services. The request from Congressmen Waxman, Stark and Levin represents the chairs of the two Health Sub-committees and the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
HR 2962 (Speier) would have removed the in-office exemption for PET, CT and MRI from the Stark self-referral law. Though the provisions were offered as suggested amendments during the mark-up of the "then" healthcare reform proposal they were not put to a vote or adopted.
The GAO report would likely not be completed for 6 to 9 months. It is also not likely that there will be a Medicare reform bill this year where any changes could be incorporated. The SGR permanent fix on Medicare physician fee cuts continue to be elusive with only band aids being applied. If that were to morph into a larger overall reform then there might be an opportunity.
The broader concern with the impact of self dealing on imaging utilization is also being fueled by more recent concerns regarding excess radiation exposure from CT scans.
SB 1237 (Padilla) on Radiation Safety Change |
We previously informed you of this new bill sponsored by the Consumer Attorneys of California with the intent to reduce the possibility of excessive radiation dose exposure. It is driven by some recent stories of excess radiation exposure from CT scans at several California hospitals. The issue is also the subject of discussions and evolving policies by the FDA that may impact equipment manufacturers and users of CT scanners.
SB 1237 as introduced would have required that the dose for the ionizing radiation procedure be placed on the film. Discussions have continued on a better approach and the bill is evolving. Amendments now in the bill after its hearing in Senate Health Committee would;
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Apply to all CT procedures performed in the hospital setting, imaging center, or private physician office,
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Require as of 1/1/12 that the dose used during the CT procedure shall be recorded on the radiology image and in the patient's medical record. This requirement would not apply if the CT equipment does not have the technical capability to do so. Also extends the date to 1/1/13 for small and rural hospitals,
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Require that as of 2012 all providers of CT, MRI, PET or nuclear medicine shall be accredited by an organization approved by CMS to provide accreditation.
The CRS had suggested the accreditation requirement as a means to reduce the incidence of errors. Since Medicare has established this requirement for non-hospital settings most radiology private practice locations would have become accredited. Whether it should be applied to the hospital setting and, if so, during that time frame is still under discussion. We also need to refine the concept of dose and whether it should be an index or range. Certainly we are mindful of the discussions on changes at the federal level and don't want to create additional burdens
Mark Your Calendar
California Radiological Society 2010 Annual Meeting
October 2-3, 2010
Hyatt San francisco in Embarcadero Center
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
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