§ 23-17-51 - Magnetic resonance imaging – Quality assurance standards.
SECTION 23-17-51
§ 23-17-51 Magnetic resonance imaging– Quality assurance standards. – (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a magneticresonance imaging examination eligible for reimbursement under the provisionsof any individual or group health insurance contract, plan or policy deliveredin this state shall be reimbursed only if the facility at which the examinationhas been conducted and processed is accredited by either the American Collegeof Radiology (ACR), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), or analternate nationally recognized accrediting organization whose accreditationstandards are substantially similar to and no less stringent than current orsubsequent ACR or IAC standards and have been reviewed and deemed adequate bythe department of health. All accreditation standards under this section,whether promulgated by the ACR, IAC, or an alternate nationally recognizedaccrediting organization, shall include, but shall not be limited to,provisions for establishing the qualifications of the physician, standards forquality control and routine performance monitoring by a medical physicist,qualifications of the technologist including minimum standards of supervisedclinical experience, personnel and patient safety guidelines, and standards forinitial and ongoing quality control using clinical image review andquantitative testing.
(b) Any facility conducting and processing magnetic resonanceimaging examinations which, as of June 30, 2006, is receiving reimbursement forsuch services by a health insurer, health maintenance organization or healthplan, but is not accredited pursuant to subsection (a), shall file itsapplication for accreditation within eighteen (18) months of July 14, 2006.Such accreditation shall be obtained not later than twelve (12) months aftersubmission of its application. A facility which begins conducting andprocessing of magnetic resonance imaging examinations after June 30, 2006 shallfile its application for accreditation within twelve (12) months of the date ofinitiation of the magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Such accreditationshall be obtained not later than twelve (12) months after submission of itsapplication. After such accreditation is obtained, a facility conducting andprocessing magnetic resonance imaging examinations shall, at all times,maintain accreditation with the appropriate accrediting body. Notwithstandinganything herein to the contrary, any facility which has filed for accreditationpursuant to this subsection (b) and which has not been refused accreditation orwithdrawn its application, will be deemed provisionally accredited for thetwelve (12) month period dating from the application filing date. Provided,further, that notwithstanding any provision of the general laws or public lawsto the contrary, any facility conducting and processing magnetic resonanceimaging examinations shall conform to the standards of the appropriateaccrediting body at all times, including during the accreditation process andshall certify said conformance to any reimbursing health insurer, healthmaintenance organization or health plan.