Radiologists No Longer Required at ASCs?

Ambulatory surgical centers long have wondered why they needed to have a radiologist on staff. After all, radiologic services in an ASC are generally limited to intra-operative guidance that doesn't require interpretation for diagnosis by a radiologist. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) agrees. CMS has released a proposed rule that would no longer require ASCs to have a radiologist on their medical staff.

Since 2008, ASCs have been subject to the full hospital requirements for radiology services even though they're only permitted to provide limited radiologic services integral to the performance of certain surgical procedures. CMS now says this requirement is "unduly burdensome for ASCs to meet." Further, says CMS, "many ASCs are having great difficulty locating a radiologist to supervise the ASC's radiologic services."

Eliminating the requirement is a trivial, but nonetheless beneficial change, says Carl R. Noback, MD, medical director if Innovative Practice Strategies in Sarasota, Fla. ASCs have never had to have radiologists "on staff." Rather, they've had to have an agreement with a radiologist or radiologic facility to potentially read studies obtained at the ASC. "Such a requirement is hardly a burden and is usually resolved with a phone call and a written agreement," says Dr. Noback.

Dan O'Connor