The resources in this section are offered to ensure that your business operations are up-to-date with the latest changes that may affect your practice.
The ACR actively evaluates the provision and interpretation of imaging services by provider type, site of service and frequency to identify solutions to ensure the appropriate utilization of medical imaging. The ACR is working with health care stakeholders from the private and public to ensure that the public receives safe, high-quality and correctly interpreted medical imaging exams.
While radiologists understand the necessity of having a written agreement, the many types of contracts and contractual terms can be confusing. In this section you’ll find guidance and examples on understanding and evaluating contracts.
Some radiology practices operate solely at hospitals, while others divide their time between hospitals, imaging centers, private practices or a combination of practice settings. This may be dictated by manpower limitations or hospital pressures.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 imposes major compliance obligations on ACR members and their staffs for using and sharing patient health information and keeping that information secure. By understanding HIPAA's basic medical privacy and data security requirements, members will be better prepared to develop and modify their compliance tools while continuing to provide quality patient care.
Medical liability threatens physicians, hospitals and insurers with rising jury liability awards, resulting in higher liability insurance premiums. These higher premiums may even price the practitioner out of his or her chosen specialty.
The ACR Legal Department provides referrals to attorneys for radiologists and radiation oncologists who do not have representation or who would like to consult with a specialist in a particular area of the law such as medical staff bylaws.
Radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists will play a vital role as responders and as sources of accurate information for patients, the public and the medical community in the event of a radiation disaster.
The definition of "kickback" has gone from simple to very complex, while fraud and abuse provisions now extend well beyond the traditional Medicare and Medicaid parameters.
Radiology has long been at the forefront of technological innovation. This has led to the increased reliance, especially in some rural areas, on telemedicine, specifically teleradiology. With this technology has come the need to better understand state and international medical and legal requirements.