OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL – The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has named The Joint Commission a designated accreditor of advanced diagnostic imaging centers. CMS’ designation announcement appears in the January 26, 2010 Federal Register.

Medicare suppliers furnishing the technical component (TC) of advanced diagnostic imaging services must become accredited by a CMS-designated accrediting organization, such as The Joint Commission, by January 1, 2012 in order to qualify for Medicare reimbursement payments. This new rule affects providers of MRI, CT, PET and nuclear medicine imaging services for Medicare beneficiaries on an outpatient basis.

According to a 2005 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) report, diagnostic imaging services paid under Medicare’s physician fee schedule grew more rapidly than any other type of physician service between 1999 and 2003, at approximately double the rate of all other physician services. The new accreditation requirement is part of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The requirement is expected to impact more than 7,000 health care organizations that utilize advanced diagnostic imaging services.

“The Joint Commission has been a long-standing accreditor for imaging services,” says Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We are pleased to be part of this federal effort to further improve care for Medicare beneficiaries.”

The Joint Commission has accredited imaging services since 1975 and currently accredits nearly 100 providers representing more than 800 sites of care. The Joint Commission’s standards for advanced diagnostic imaging focus on the qualifications of medical personnel and medical directors, the performance specifications for imaging equipment and quality assurance and quality control programs to ensure the safety, reliability, clarity and accuracy of diagnostic imaging. For more information please visit www.jointcommission.org/AdvImaging2012.