As reported previously in DOTmed News, UnitedHealth Group will require that by March 1, 2008, all participating freestanding imaging facilities and physician offices performing CT, CTA, MRI, MRA, Nuclear Medicine/Cardiology, PET and Echocardiography will need to obtain accreditation as a condition for reimbursement.

The accreditation of a facility is supposed to assure the payor, the insurance company, and the patient that they are receiving the best quality medical care.

Credentials that are acceptable for the accreditation process for CT and MRI are obtained through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). In order to take an advanced level exam from the ARRT, you must be in good standing and have your continuing education up-to-date. In echocardiography, you may get credentialed through the ARRT if you are already an R.T., the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) if you meet their qualifications, or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) if you meet their qualifications. The requirements and applications for each of the advanced level exams can be found at the website for each of the organizations. They are as follows: www.arrt.org, www.ardms.org, www.cci-online.org.

Review classes to prepare for the advanced level exams in CT and MRI are sponsored by Advanced Health Education Center several times per year. Please do not delay and give yourself plenty of time to prepare and take the test.

The alternative to obtaining a registry credential is to document training and experience. AHEC has multiple classes to assist in the documentation of training in these advanced level areas.

This change in the delivery of health care services can only mean a greater restriction on those entering the field and performing the work. It probably will not be long until the other major insurance providers follow this lead.

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