CMS reiterates ruling on radiopharmaceutical prep and ASC imaging

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is projected to publish a final rule on “burdensome” regulations regarding imaging in ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and radiopharmaceutical preparation in hospitals on May 12.

The new rule allows radiology services to be performed by someone qualified by ASC governance, instead of all services requiring a radiologist present. Old rules demanded that ASCs adhere to hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP), which is now being seen as unreasonable.

The draft final ruling notes that "the hospital CoP requirement to have a radiologist supervise the provision of radiologic services is unduly burdensome and overly aggressive, as many ASCs are having great difficulty locating a radiologist to supervise the minimal ASC radiologic services provided."

CMS also changed its ruling on the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging recommendations. Instead of requiring nuclear medicine services and associated preparation to be under the direct watch of a registered radiopharmacist, healthcare centers will be able to deliver care when an overseeing radiopharmacist is available, including in situations when that individual may not be on the premises, such as after-hours.