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Referrals Within Practices for Imaging Regulated

Though most of the conversations concerning healthcare reform focus on payment reform, there are a number of new provisions that affect medical practices in unexpected ways.  One of them is the provision that requires written notice to practice patients receiving CT, MR and PET services furnished by the practice.

Effective January 1, 2010, any medical practice that provides CT, MR or PET to its patients must provide written notice to such patients, in advance, that the patient may obtain the test from another supplier and must further provide the patient a list of suppliers offering the service located in the same area where the patient resides.  The Secretary of DHHS has the power to expand this requirement to other diagnostic imaging procedures provided by medical practices to their own patients.