Background information for Diagnostic Imaging Practices
This information is also available as a PDF.
The Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Act 2007 (the DIA Act) amended the Health Insurance Act 1973 and established a legislative framework for the introduction of an accreditation scheme for practices providing diagnostic imaging services under Medicare.
The DIA Act established:
- Standards that practice sites need to comply with; and
- A system for obtaining and maintaining accreditation; and
- A process for undertaking assessments and conducting reviews and appeals; and
- Accreditation organisations that assess practices against the standards.
The DIA Act requires accreditation for diagnostic imaging services other than:
- Cardiac Ultrasound;
- Cardiac Angiography;
- Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound; and
- Nuclear Medicine Imaging.
Practices that only operate the above modalities do not need to register or apply for accreditation.
Practices providing diagnostic imaging services that want to claim Medicare benefits need to apply to an accrediting agency for a desk-top audit with evidence that the Diagnostic Imaging standards are being achieved.
After the accrediting agency has reviewed the application evidence forwarded by the diagnostic imaging practice, a certificate of accreditation is provided or the practice needs to take action to meet the standards.
Who needs to do what and by when
For the purposes of diagnostic accreditation there are two key groups of practices. The following describes the key steps and critical dates to becoming accredited as a diagnostic imaging practice and continuing to access Medicare benefits. Follow the steps described below:
Step One: Register
| Who | Does this | No later than |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Imaging Practices | Registers with HDAA using the HDAA website | By 20 June 2008 |
| HDAA | Reviews registration information and notifies Medicare that the practice is registered for accreditation. | Within two days of receiving the registration but no later than 23 June 2008 |
| Notifies the registering practice that the registration has been received and that they are deemed accredited. | ||
| Medicare | Reviews all registrations and determines those practices that continue to be able to access Medicare benefits | By 30 June 2008 |
Step Two: Apply (From 1 July 2008)
| Who | Does this | No later than |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Imaging Practices | Compiles all relevant information to demonstrate that the standards are being achieved and submits this information to HDAA | By 20 June 2009 |
| HDAA | Receives application documentation and notifies Medicare that the practice has applied for accreditation. | Within two days of receiving the application but no later than 23 June 2009 |
| Notifies deemed accredited practices that their application has been received. | ||
| Medicare | Reviews all applications and determines those practices that continue to be able to access Medicare benefits | By 30 June 2009 |
Step Three: Desk-Top Audit
| Who | Does this | No later than |
|---|---|---|
| HDAA | Completed the desk top audit for deemed accredited practices and notifies Medicare and the practice of the result. | Within six months of receiving the application |
| Complete the desk top audit new practices commencing after 1 July 2008 or an existing practice that did not register before 30 June 2008. | HDAA will complete the audit within 10 days | |
| Diagnostic Imaging Practices | ||
| DI accredited practices will not need to take any further action. | No action for practices that achieve accreditation | |
| DI practices that are not accredited will need to take action to comply with the standards or they may seek reconsideration of the accreditation decision | Practices that are not accredited may seek reconsideration within 28 days of the desk top audit being completed | |
| New practices commencing after 1 July 2008 or an existing practice that did not register before 30 June 2008 will need to apply for accreditation with HDAA and HDAA will complete the audit within 10 days | 20 June 2009 | |
| Medicare | Reviews all accreditations and determines those practices that continue to be able to access Medicare benefits |
Practices that are accredited for diagnostic imaging will be certified until 30 June 2010.
Practices that have applied for or already have medical imaging accreditation
Practices that have applied for medical imaging accreditation that become accredited before 1 July, or practices that already have medical imaging accreditation, will be granted accreditation for the corresponding modalities under the diagnostic imaging scheme until 30 June 2010.
Contact HDAA
Contact us on Freephone 1800 601 696 or by email at di@hdaau.com.au
