The American College of Radiology (ACR) of Reston, VA, will call for mandatory accreditation of all providers of advanced imaging and radiation oncology services at hearings in the U.S. Congress on February 26.
Congress called the hearings to address growing concerns over radiation dose in both imaging and radiation oncology procedures. The ACR said that its testimony will be presented by Dr. Stephen Amis, chair of the ACR's task force on radiation dose in medicine.
Amis will call for mandatory accreditation of all advanced imaging and radiation oncology providers regardless of setting, the ACR said. Accreditation already will be required as of January 1, 2012, under Part B of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, but the requirement does not apply to hospital providers of imaging services and does not include radiation oncology.
Amis will advocate expanded use of the ACR's appropriateness criteria to ensure that patients get appropriate care, and he will also express the society's support for HR 3652, the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) Act, which would set credentialing requirements for radiologic technologists.
Related Reading
Congressional hearings on medical radiation rescheduled, February 19, 2010
Congress sets hearings to review medical radiation, February 8, 2010
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