Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013

To amend the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to improve the quality and value of health care by increasing the safety and accuracy of medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy procedures, thereby reducing duplication of services and decreasing costs. 3. Quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy Part F of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262 et seq. 4 Medical imaging and radiation therapy 355. Quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy (a) Qualified personnel (1) In general Effective 42 months after the date of enactment of this section, personnel who furnish the technical component of either medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes (except exempt individuals as described in paragraph (4)) shall be fully qualified under this section to furnish such services. (2) Qualifications Individuals qualified to furnish the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures shall— (A) possess current certification in the medical imaging or radiation therapy modality or service they furnish from a certification organization designated under subsection (b); or (B) possess current State licensure or certification, where— (i) such services and modalities are within the scope of practice as defined by the State for such profession; and (ii) the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration meet or exceed the standards established by the certification organization designated under subsection (b). (3) State licensure, certification, or registration (A) In general Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the authority of a State to define requirements for licensure, certification, or registration, the requirements for practice, or the scope of practice of personnel. (B) Limitation The Secretary shall not take any action under this section that would require licensure by a State of personnel who furnish the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures. (4) Exemptions (A) In general The qualification standards described in this subsection and the payment provisions in section 1848(b)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act shall not apply to physicians (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(r) 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(5) personnel qualified personnel (B) Individuals currently enrolled Individuals currently enrolled in a nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, or medical physicist training or certification program as of the date the Secretary publishes the list of approved certification organizations shall have 6 months from the date of completion of the training program to become fully qualified as required under subsection (a). (b) Designation of certification organizations (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program for designating medical imaging or radiation therapy certification organizations that the Secretary determines have established appropriate procedures and programs for certifying personnel as qualified to furnish medical imaging or radiation therapy services. In establishing such program, the Secretary shall consult with professional organizations and recognized experts in the technical component of medical imaging and radiation therapy services. (2) Factors (A) In general When designating certification organizations under this subsection, and when reviewing or modifying the list of designated organizations for the purposes of paragraph (4)(B), the Secretary— (i) shall consider— (I) whether the certification organization has established a process for the timely integration of new medical imaging or radiation therapy services into the organization's certification program; (II) whether the certification organization has established education and continuing education requirements for individuals certified by the organization; (III) whether the certification organization is a nonprofit organization; (IV) whether the certification organization requires completion of a certification examination as a prerequisite for certification; and (V) whether the certification organization has been accredited by an accrediting body (as defined in subparagraph (B)) that is approved by the Secretary; and (ii) may consider— (I) whether the certification organization has established reasonable fees to be charged to those applying for certification; and (II) the ability of the certification organization to review applications for certification in a timely manner. (B) Accrediting body For purposes of this section, the term accrediting body (i) is a nonprofit organization; (ii) is a national or international organization with accreditation programs for examinations leading to certification by certification organizations; and (iii) has established standards for recordkeeping and to minimize the possibility of conflicts of interest. (3) Equivalent education, training, and experience (A) In general For purposes of this section, the Secretary shall, through regulation, provide a process for individuals whose training or experience are determined to be equal to, or in excess of, those of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty to demonstrate their experience meets the educational standards for qualified personnel in their imaging modality or radiation therapy procedures. Such process may include documentation of items such as— (i) years and type of experience; (ii) a list of settings where experience was obtained; and (iii) verification of experience by supervising physicians or clinically qualified hospital personnel. (B) Eligibility The Secretary shall not recognize any individual as having met the educational standards applicable under this paragraph based on experience pursuant to the authority of subparagraph (A) unless such individual was furnishing the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy treatments prior to the date of enactment of this section. (4) Process (A) Regulations Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations for designating certification organizations pursuant to this subsection. (B) Designations and list Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make determinations regarding all certification organizations that have applied for designation pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A), and shall publish a list of all certification organizations that have received a designation. (C) Periodic review and revision The Secretary shall periodically review the list under subparagraph (B), taking into account the factors established under paragraph (2). After such review, the Secretary may, by regulation, modify the list of certification organizations that have received such designation. (D) Withdrawal of approval The Secretary may withdraw the approval of a certification organization listed under subparagraph (B) if the Secretary determines that the body no longer meets the requirements of this subsection. (E) Certifications prior to removal from list If the Secretary removes a certification organization from the list of certification organizations designated under subparagraph (B), any individual who was certified by the certification organization during or before the period beginning on the date on which the certification organization was designated as a certification organization under such subparagraph, and ending 12 months from the date on which the certification organization is removed from such list, shall be considered to have been certified by a certification organization designated by the Secretary under such subparagraph for the remaining period that such certification is in effect. (c) Alternative standards for rural and underserved areas The chief executive officer of a State may submit to the Secretary a statement declaring that the requirements described in subsection (a) are inappropriate for application for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures that are furnished in a geographic area that is determined to be a rural area (d) Rule of construction Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, individuals who provide medical imaging examinations relating to mammograms shall continue to meet the regulations applicable under the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992. (e) Definition As used in this section: (1) Medical imaging The term medical imaging (2) Radiation therapy The term radiation therapy . 4. Standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy Section 1848(b)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(b)(4) (E) Standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy With respect to expenses incurred in the furnishing of the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes (as defined in subsection (e) of section 355 of the Public Health Service Act) on or after 42 months after date of enactment of the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013 . 5. Report on the effects of this act (a) In general Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report on the effects of this Act. (b) Requirements The report under subsection (a) shall include the types and numbers of individuals qualified to furnish the technical component of medical imaging or radiation therapy services for whom standards have been developed, the impact of such standards on diagnostic accuracy and patient safety, and the availability and cost of services. Entities reimbursed for technical services through programs operating under the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be required to contribute data to such report.

Summary: Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require personnel (excluding physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) who furnish the technical component of either medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes (except certain exempt individuals) to possess current: (1) certification in each medical imaging or radiation therapy modality and service they furnish from a certification organization designated under this Act; and (2) state licensure or certification where such services and modalities are within the profession's scope of practice as defined by the state, and where requirements for licensure, certification, or registration meet or exceed standards established by the certification organization designated under this Act. Gives individuals enrolled in specified training or certification programs when the list of approved certification organizations is published an additional six months after completion of a training program to become fully qualified under this Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) establish a program for designating certification organizations after consideration of specified criteria; (2) provide a process for individuals whose training or experience is determined to be equal to, or in excess of, that of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty to demonstrate that their experience meets the educational standards for qualified personnel in their imaging modality or radiation therapy procedures; and (3) publish a list of designated certification organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to waive standards under this Act or to develop alternative standards for rural or health professional shortage areas as appropriate. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare payment for medical imaging and radiation therapy services only if the examination or procedure is furnished by an individual who meets this Act's requirements.