HCPro.com: Mammography Regulation and Reimbursement Report

The FDA is in a state of inspection. Will your facility pass the test? Comply with FDA regulations and interpret the Mammography Quality Standards Act with Mammography Regulation Report.

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May 2008 (Volume 7, Issue 5)	view entire issue

MQSA to look at lay letters, infection control, digital QC
MQSA inspectors appear to be making good on the FDA's promise to make sure that facilities send out timely mammography reports to patients and physicians, according to the Mercy Suburban Hospital mammography facility in Norristown, PA, which underwent inspection in February. The inspector that visited Mercy looked for proof that: Lay reports were sent on time Fax versions arrived at their destination Tracking and auditing systems for these reports were in place

Digital disinfection: Does your facility put patients at risk?
Even if you regularly use a disinfecting solution to clean your digital unit, you may not be disinfecting your machine correctly. To kill germs that lurk on mammography and breast imaging equipment, disinfectants must sit on the surface of the equipment for a period of time. However, digital mammography manufacturers advise against letting any liquid sit on the units for fear of damaging the expensive equipment. Not sure of how to proceed or unaware they are not disinfecting the units properly, some facilities may expose patients to infection, says Maureen Spencer, RN, MEd, CIC, a certified infection control and hospital epidemiology specialist, and the infection control manager at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.

Adverse event/action report reveals fraud, QA issues
On March 21, the FDA released its 2007 Adverse Event and Action Report, which details actions regulators took against mammography facilities in the past year. The annual report is mandated by Congress and includes information from federal, state, and territorial agencies, as well as the ACR. This report lists fewer facilities than in past years, says Dan Oakey, mammography coordinator for the state of Florida and a certified MQSA inspector. The 2007 violations mirror those cited in the past. In almost all cases, problems occurred because of a breakdown in communication at the organization, he says.

Avoid top 2008 coding and billing pitfalls
Think you finally have your coding and billing process in line, especially since none of the breast imaging codes changed this year? Don't be too sure of yourself. Experts say they still see numerous coding and billing mistakes from breast imaging centers. Check out our list in the PDF of this issue to make sure your facility avoids these common coding errors: Separately billing bundled procedures. Separately billing CMS for mammography procedures used to prepare patients for a breast procedure is one common mistake.

Keep physicians happy after they're hired
It is no small feat to find a new radiologist to fill a vacancy in your facility in a tight market. Many managers breathe a sigh of relief when a physician accepts the position. Yet if you do not help new hires get settled in the organization and the community, you may find yourself conducting another physician search within a few months. Lauren Krebs, a radiology recruitment specialist for American Medical Recruiters in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, says she often gets calls from radiologists 90 days after they start a new job, saying they think they made a mistake.

Other recently-published articles from Mammography Regulation and Reimbursement Report:

Mammography of the augmented breast

MammoPad aids patient positioning, comfort on digital units

FDA issues updates, makes no mention of reauthorization

Screening ultrasound detects cancers in women with intermediate risks

Reduce wait times: Have radiologists read from home

Avoid legal risks when screening elderly patients

Recall rate may jump as a result of digital conversion

Keep physicians happy after they’re hired

Avoid top 2008 coding and billing pitfalls

Adverse event/action report reveals fraud, QA issues

Digital disinfection: Does your facility put patients at risk?

MQSA to look at lay letters, infection control, digital QC

Marketing tips to promote your digital program

Retention should be as much of a focus as recruitment

Get a grip on your facility’s work flow

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