In an updated guideline, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated that registered radiologist assistants (RRAs) and radiology practitioner assistants (RPAs) can provide diagnostic test services under revised supervision levels defined for the hospital outpatient setting, the American College of Radiology (ACR) reported.
The guidance, Transmittal 251, now has a section called "Requirements for Diagnostic X-Ray, Diagnostic Laboratory, and Other Diagnostic Tests," which defines the levels of physician supervision required for RRAs and RPAs to provide the technical component of diagnostic tests for a Medicare beneficiary who is not a hospital inpatient.
The updated guidance goes into effect on January 1, 2019, the ACR said.
