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NEW: Accreditation Mandate Included in New Medicare Bill
Accreditation Mandate Included in New Medicare Bill… The U.S. Congress passed and upheld the Patients and Providers Act on July 9th and 15th, 2008. The bill requires that by 2012, providers of advanced diagnostic imaging services, inclusive of Nuclear Medicine, MR, CT, and PET, must obtain accreditation as a condition for reimbursement. Go to http://intersocietal.org/iac/news/breaking_MedicareAct.htm
ICAVL has made changes for delayed laboratories. The labs now:
- Have one year to provide additionally requested documentation
- Are permitted to submit one set of delayed material free of charge
- Will be assessed $200.00 if lab must provide additional materal
- Have a maximum of three delay submissions
Go to http://www.icavl.org/iac/news/changeinpolicy_delaystatus.htm for more information.
The ICAEL hopes to release the Online Accreditation in November. The Online Accreditation system is entirely web-based, you will be able to purchased materials, store accreditation data, complete and submit the ICAEL application all via the internet. The new system features direct links to the standards and instructional language to assist in the application process. Go to http://www.icavl.org/iac/news/whatsonline.htm for full article.
Because there are numerous scenarios for peripheral arterial testing, understanding the difference between primary arterial testing and supplemental testing for the ICAVL application can be challenging… The IAC newsletter this month contains a complete article addressing the different scenarios and types of peripheral testing in the Autumn 2008 IAC newsletter titled “spotlight on Peripheral Arterial Testing” Go to http://www.icavl.org/iac/news/div_icavl/peripharterial.htm for full article. |
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NEWS: JRC-DMS's Recognition of CCI Credentials
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) Board of Directors voted at its July 31 - August 2, 2008 meeting to accept the Registered Vascular Sonographer, RVS, and Registered Cardiac Sonographer, RCS, credentials as meeting the standards for credentialing outcomes, and for all other references of appropriate credentials necessary to meet the Standards.
Visit CCI-Online.Org for more information |
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NEWS: United Healthcare Extends Reimbursement Deadline
In a statement released recently, United Healthcare has extended the mandatory lab accreditation to the 4th quarter of 2009. It was ruled that all advanced imaging modalities must be accreditated by January 1, 2012 to qualify for reimbursement.
Read the news release online. |
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New! Third Edition of Terry Reynold's (Adult) Echocardiographer's PocketReference. NowNew! Third Edition of Terry Reynold's (Adult) Echocardiographer's Pocket includes
A new peripheral vascular section. To read more or purchase click here. |
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Sound Ergonomics has launched "S'Ergo News"- a new bi-monthly newsletter. Their first edition includes links to TOP 10 LIST FOR SONOGRAPHER SAFETY, a request for you to SIGN UP FOR THE 2008 SYMPTOM SURVEY and link for you to join their mailing list. Click on blue text for more information. |
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CMS Proposes Policy and Payment Changes for Physicians’ Services in 2008
“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projects that it will pay approximately $58.9 billion to 900,000 physicians and other health care professionals in calendar year (CY) 2008, under a proposed rule released on July 2 that would revise payment rates and policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This proposed rule is a further step in Medicare’s efforts to ensure that payment policies provide incentives to improve the quality of care.” Read more |
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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Coalition would like to invite you to join the Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About P.A.D. partners list. The Stay in Circulation Update offers regular e-mails on plans for this year’s Stay in Circulation Week activities, including the availability of new campaign materials.
It is easy to join! Just go to
http://mail.nhlbi-nih.info/subscribe/pad/subscribe.htm and enter your information. |
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P.A.D News
The P.A.D. Collation has issued a call for nominations for the 2008 Best P.A.D. Research Award
“To best identify and celebrate the creation of new clinical research relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of P.A.D., the Coalition announces a call for nominations for the 2008 Best P.A.D. Research Award. This annual award acknowledges the work of individual investigators and research teams whose scientific efforts have advanced P.A.D. knowledge.” Nominations are due April 1, 2008. For submission instructions, please click here
Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About P.A.D.
Here are some ways your organization can support the Stay in Circulation Campaign:
Increase Public Awareness
Inform Your Members about the Campaign and the P.A.D. Coalition
Educate the Health Care Community and Patients
Read more.
Order your free PDA toolkit
In partnership with the P.A.D. Coalition, the American Heart Association has developed a P.A.D. Clinician Toolkit to help you better treat your patients with peripheral arterial disease. Visit http://www.vitalitycommunications.com:16080/padkit/ |
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Sonograms Safe If Done Properly
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) today urged caution in light of media reports about a Yale University study that showed ultrasound used on mice fetuses could adversely affect brain cell development. Read more. |
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High-intensity ultrasound may launch attack on cancer, wherever it lurks!
An intense form of ultrasound that shakes a tumor until its cells start to leak can trigger an “alarm” that enlists immune defenses against the cancerous invasion, according to a study led by researchers at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. Read more. |
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GAO Issues Report that Supports Credentialing and/or Accreditation for Medicare Ultrasound Procedures
On Thursday, June 28, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a detailed report on “Medicare Ultrasound Procedures: Consideration of Payment Reforms and Technician Qualifications/ Requirements” that recommends that “CMS should require sonographers providing Medicare-covered ultrasound exams to either be credentialed or work in an accredited facility.” Read more |
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Society of Vascular Surgery News:
Imaging Under Attack
The rising cost of imaging to the Medicare program will remain under a microscope and the Administration and some in Congress will attempt to further reduce reimbursements for imaging services. The ACR will oppose such reductions and work during the coming year to promote sensible and reasonable reimbursement policies that highlight expert quality, patient safety and appropriateness of testing. Read more |
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Vascular-Web Opens Certificate Repository
Now you can upload your non-Vascular-Web certificates to our repository and have access to your information anywhere. If you receive an Audit Notification from ARDMS or CCI, your certificates are electronically stored online. It is a simple process. You convert your certificates to Adobe PDF format, access your account, and upload your documents within minutes. PDF is the most secure document system currently available.
If you are multi-modality, Vascular-Web is the perfect place to keep copies of your documents online. |
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