Accreditation is the formal review process that allows organizations and medical systems to demonstrate their commitment to quality to ensure the minimum standards of care are met.
Echocardiography labs are the only imaging modalities not mandated to be accredited.
Currently, any provider can submit claims for echocardiography CPT codes, leading some clinicians to order and perform inappropriate and inaccurate echocardiograms. This can cause improper under and overuse of the tests, resulting in:
- incorrect diagnoses
- unnecessary care delays
- missed pathology
- needless patient financial burden
- additional and invasive patient tests
- unnecessary Medicare spending.
MedPAC recommended Congress require mandatory accreditation for all imaging services performed on Medicare beneficiaries to curb rapid utilization and spending growth and ensure patient safety.
ASE recommends support of parity for imaging services by mandating accreditation for Medicare coverage of echocardiography services to improve patient outcomes and quality of care, which will prevent unnecessary utilization and lower Medicare spending.