Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note IN.0.4

Background

All practices providing diagnostic imaging services needed to be accredited under the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme (DIAS) in order for Medicare benefits to be payable for those services.

First time accreditation

New practices entering the Scheme may choose to be accredited against either three entry-level Standards or the full suite of Standards.  Practices initially choosing to be accredited against the entry level Standards have a further period of two years to become accredited against the full suite of Standards. 

Re-accreditation of Practices  

Practices previously accredited must seek re-accreditation against the full suite of Standards and cannot apply for re-accreditation against the entry level Standards. Accreditation against the full suite of Standards is for a four year period.

Non-Accredited Practices

Practices may choose not to be accredited and still provide diagnostic imaging services, but these services do not attract a Medicare rebate.  

Practices which are not accredited under the DIAS must inform patients prior to carrying out the service that the practice is not accredited and as such the service does not attract a Medicare rebate. It is an offence under the Health Insurance Act 1973 not to do so.

The Medical Imaging Accreditation Program (MIAP)

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist (RANZCR) offers a voluntary accreditation program jointly with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). 

Practices participating in MIAP can seek recognition of their MIAP accreditation under the DIAS.  This recognition will grant MIAP Practices accreditation against the full suite of Standards until the date of the expiration of the recognised MIAP accreditation.  By this date Practices will need to either provide their Approved Accreditor with evidence of renewal of MIAP accreditation or have been granted accreditation against the full suite of Standard. 

The Standards

The current Standards are made up of three entry level Standards and the full suite of Practice Accreditation Standards.  If a practice is applying for accreditation against the entry level Standards, an accreditation decision will be made by an Approved Accreditor within 15 business days of the lodgement of an application for accreditation.   If a practice is applying for accreditation against the full suite of Standards, an accreditation decision will be made by an Approved Accreditor within 30 business days of the lodgement of an application for accreditation. 

From the date of being granted accreditation, the practice site can provide diagnostic imaging services under Medicare. 

Entry Level Standards

-          Registration and Licensing Standard (Standard 1.2)

-          Radiation Safety Standard (Standard 1.3)

-          Equipment Inventory Standard  (Standard 1.4)

Full Suite Standards

-          Part 1 - Organisational Standards

-          Part 2 - Pre-procedure Standards

-          Part 3 - Procedure Standards

-          Part 4 - Post Procedure Standards 

Applying for accreditation

Whether a practice is applying for accreditation against entry-level Standards or the full suite Standards, the application process is the same.  A practice is required to submit to an Approved Accreditor either:

-          an application for accreditation providing written documentary evidence of compliance with the entry level Standards or the full suite Standards; or

-          written evidence of accreditation under the Medical Imaging Accreditation Program (MIAP) jointly administered by RANZCR and NATA. 

Renewal of Accreditation

Practices awarded accreditation against the full suite of Standards enter the maintenance program which requires them to be re-accredited every 4 years. 

Approved Accreditors  

There are three Accreditation agencies approved by the Minister for Health to provide Accreditation services: 

HDAA Australia                                                    (HDAA)                    Ph: 1800 601 696                               

National Association of Testing Authorities              (NATA)                     Ph: 1800 621 666                 

Quality Innovation Performance                             (QIP)                       Ph: 1300 888 329                                    

 

Further information can be obtained from:

Website:                 www.diagnosticimaging.health.gov.au

Email:                    DIAS@health.gov.au

Phone:                   02 6289 8859

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