Florida

FISCAL INTERMEDIARIES/MAC - PART A

FIRST COAST SERVICE OPTIONS, INC. [MAC A]
www.fcso.com

"The accuracy of non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies depends on the knowledge, skill and experience of the technologist and the physician performing the interpretation of the study. Consequently, the technologist and the physician must maintain proof of training and experience.

All non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies must be: (1) performed by a qualified physician, or (2) performed under the general supervision of a qualified physician by a technologist who has demonstrated minimum entry level competency by being credentialed in vascular technology, and/or (3) performed in a laboratory accredited in vascular technology.

A qualified physician for this service is defined as follows: 1) A physician who has staff privileges to interpret vascular laboratory studies in a hospital that participates in the Medicare program in the state of Florida and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (as applicable) or; 2) A physician who works in a certified vascular laboratory or; 3) A physician who has the RVT or the RPVI (Registered Physician in Vascular interpretation – provided by the ARDMS) certificate or; 4) Physicians who are not covered by one of these criteria will have until 2008 to comply.

Examples of certification in vascular technology for non-physician personnel include:

• Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential
• Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) credential
• Registered Technologist in Vascular Sonography (R.T. (VS))

These credentials must be provided by nationally recognized credentialing organizations such as:

• The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) which provides RDMS and RVT credentials
• The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) which provides RVS credential
• The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
  

Appropriate nationally recognized laboratory accreditation bodies include:

• Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL)
• American College of Radiology (ACR)
  

WISCONSIN PHYSICIANS SERVICE INSURANCE CORPORATION [FI]
www.wpsmedicare.com

A. Training and Certification:
1. The accuracy of non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies depends on the knowledge, skill, and experience of the technologist and interpreter. Consequently, the physician performing and/or interpreting the study must be capable of demonstrating documented training and experience and maintain any applicable documentation. A vascular diagnostic study may be personally performed by a physician or a technologist.

The GAO Report to Congressional Committees entitled Medicare Ultrasound Procedures. Consideration of Payment Reforms and Technician Qualifications Requirements states that “Findings from several peer-reviewed studies, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and ultrasound-related professional organizations support requiring that sonographers either have credentials or operate in facilities that are accredited, where specific quality standards
apply. In some localities and practice settings, CMS or its contractors have required that sonographers either be credentialed or work in an accredited facility.” (GAO-07-734)

2. All non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies must be performed under at least one of the following settings:
a. performed by a physician who is competent in diagnostic vascular studies or under the general supervision of physicians who have demonstrated minimum entry level competency by being credentialed in vascular technology, or
b. performed by a technician who is certified in vascular technology, or
c. performed in facilities with laboratories accredited in vascular technology.

3. One or more technologists in each vascular laboratory must be certified by a credentialing board recognized by the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) or the National Council for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17024).

4. Laboratories may be certified by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. Certification of the laboratory itself supersedes the requirement for certification of individual technologists."

These requirements will be necessary to payment of services provided beginning 05/01/2010.

MEDICARE CARRIERS/MAC - PART B

FIRST COAST SERVICE OPTIONS, INC. [MAC B]
www.fcso.com

"The accuracy of non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies depends on the knowledge, skill and experience of the technologist and the physician performing the interpretation of the study. Consequently, the technologist and the physician must maintain proof of training and experience.

All non-invasive vascular diagnostic studies must be: (1) performed by a qualified physician, or (2) performed under the general supervision of a qualified physician by a technologist who has demonstrated minimum entry level competency by being credentialed in vascular technology, and/or (3) performed in a laboratory accredited in vascular technology.

A qualified physician for this service is defined as follows: 1) A physician who has staff privileges to interpret vascular laboratory studies in a hospital that participates in the Medicare program in the state of Florida and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (as applicable) or; 2) A physician who works in a certified vascular laboratory or; 3) A physician who has the RVT or the RPVI (Registered Physician in Vascular interpretation – provided by the ARDMS) certificate or; 4) Physicians who are not covered by one of these criteria will have until 2008 to comply.

Examples of certification in vascular technology for non-physician personnel include:

• Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) credential
• Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) credential
• Registered Technologist in Vascular Sonography (R.T. (VS))

These credentials must be provided by nationally recognized credentialing organizations such as:

• The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) which provides RDMS and RVT credentials
• The Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) which provides RVS credential
• The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
  

Appropriate nationally recognized laboratory accreditation bodies include:

• Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL)
• American College of Radiology (ACR)