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  • 1.  Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-09-2021 16:25
    Edited by Craig Carter 12-09-2021 16:47
    Hi all,

    I was hoping to pick your brains regarding a particular portion of the currently-temporary rule related to radiologists' remote "availability" for contrast administration.  The temporary rule allows the supervising physician to be immediately available through virtual presence using real-time audio/video technology, instead of requiring the supervisor's physical presence.

    In practice, does this indicate that the remote physician must actively monitor every injection via audio/video technology, or do they simply need to be available through these means?  


    Thanks for any thoughts you can provide,

    Craig 

    ------------------------------
    Craig Carter
    Chief Operating Officer
    Radiology Associates of North Texas
    Fort Worth TX
    (817) 321-0313
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-09-2021 16:55

    Craig,

     

    Subject to any individual state law requirements for how direct supervision is performed, your summary accurately describes what Medicare permits until Dec. 31, 2022.

     

    Thomas W. Greeson

    703.517.0495 (cell)

    tgreeson@reedsmith.com

    Pronouns: He/Him/His

     

    Reed Smith LLP

    7900 Tysons One Place

    Suite 500

    McLean, Virginia 22102-5979

    Office Telephone: 703 641 4242

    Facsimile:   703 641 4340

     

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-09-2021 17:00
    Thanks for the quick, and expert, reply Tom! 

    Just to clarify...subject to state law...availability is sufficient, not active video audio participation in each injection?

    Thanks again!

    Craig

    ------------------------------
    Craig Carter
    Chief Operating Officer
    Radiology Associates of North Texas
    Fort Worth TX
    (817) 321-0313
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-09-2021 17:48

    Yes. Direct supervision relates to availability. Before this modification during the public health emergency,  Medicare required the supervising physician (now non-physician practitioner too) for Level 2 contrast studies must be in the office suite and immediately available. At least until the end of 2022, the rule permits the supervising physician to be virtually available real time via video/audio communications technology. When physically present, the supervising physician was not required to watch each injection. The same is true for virtual presence.

     

    Make sure to determine state requirements also.

     

    Thomas W. Greeson

    703.517.0495 (cell)

    tgreeson@reedsmith.com

    Pronouns: He/Him/His

     

    Reed Smith LLP

    7900 Tysons One Place

    Suite 500

    McLean, Virginia 22102-5979

    Office Telephone: 703 641 4242

    Facsimile:   703 641 4340

     

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-10-2021 07:43
    Thanks again for providing your insights on this Tom!

    Craig

    ------------------------------
    Craig Carter
    Chief Operating Officer
    Radiology Associates of North Texas
    Fort Worth TX
    (817) 321-0313
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-10-2021 08:13
    So is this virtual supervision only for contrast or would it apply to swallowing studies too?

    Thank you,

    ------------------------------
    Sheila Witous, MBA, CPA, CGMA
    Chief Administrative Officer
    Radiology, Inc.
    South Bend IN
    (574) 258-1100 ext. 205
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-10-2021 08:45

    Only Level 2 tests, Sheila.

     

    Thomas W. Greeson

    703.517.0495 (cell)

    tgreeson@reedsmith.com

    Pronouns: He/Him/His

     

    Reed Smith LLP

    7900 Tysons One Place

    Suite 500

    McLean, Virginia 22102-5979

    Office Telephone: 703 641 4242

    Facsimile:   703 641 4340

     

     

     

     




    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Immediate audio/video availability and contrast supervision?

    Posted 12-10-2021 14:12
    Is anyone currently operating an IDTF taking advantage of this?

    ------------------------------
    Rhonda Lennon
    Practice Manager
    Columbus Radiology Physicians - Columbus, IN
    Columbus IN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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