Reimbursement and the Nuclear Laboratory: An Overview
THE ICANL DOES:
Attempt to stay abreast of payment policies as a service to the nuclear cardiology, nuclear medicine and PET imaging communities.
Communicate information to nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology and PET laboratories about payment policies (via the ICANL website, newsletter articles and other mailings to laboratories).
Employ knowledgeable staff to assist laboratories with basic questions about payment policies.
Provide, upon request, the same information to insurance carriers as we publish in the accredited laboratory listing on the website. |
THE ICANL DOES NOT:
Establish rules or regulations for the insurance carriers.
Have the authority to make decisions regarding implementation dates, extensions, etc.
Have responsibility for notifying providers of nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology and PET testing services of payment policies. |
The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) receives numerous phone calls and e-mails each week from laboratories who are concerned with their compliance to private insurers' payment policies.
Over the past few years, payment policies have been adopted by several insurers for the reimbursement of nuclear medicine procedures, requiring accreditation of the laboratory. Then in July 2008, the U.S. Congress passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), a new law stating that by January 1, 2012, all nonhospital providers of advanced diagnostic imaging, inclusive of Nuclear Medicine, MR, CT, and PET, must obtain accreditation as a condition for reimbursement. The IAC recently received recognition by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a designated accreditation organization for MIPPA. Read more»
A listing of payment policies of which the ICANL is currently aware can be found on this website under Payment Policies.
Tamara Sloper, IAC Marketing Director, is available to answer your general questions about payment policy and reimbursement. She may be contacted at 800-838-2110 or via e-mail at sloper@intersocietal.org. |
