2005 Rhode Island Code - § 23-17-51 — Magnetic resonance imaging – Quality assurance standards. [Effective January 1, 2006.].

    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a magnetic resonance imaging examination eligible for reimbursement under the provisions of any individual or group health insurance contract, plan or policy delivered in this state shall be reimbursed only if the facility at which the examination has been conducted and processed is accredited by either the American College of Radiology (ACR) or an alternate nationally recognized accrediting organization whose accreditation standards are substantially similar to and no less stringent than current or subsequent ACR standards and have been reviewed and deemed adequate by the department of health. All accreditation standards under this section, whether promulgated by the ACR or an alternate nationally recognized accrediting organization, shall include, but shall not be limited to, provisions for establishing the qualifications of the physician, standards for quality control and routine performance monitoring by a medical physicist, qualifications of the technologist including minimum standards of supervised clinical experience, personnel and patient safety guidelines, and standards for initial and ongoing quality control using clinical image review and quantitative testing.

   (b) Any facility conducting and processing magnetic resonance imaging examinations which, as of the effective date of this section, is receiving reimbursement for such services by a health insurer, health maintenance organization or health plan, but is not accredited pursuant to subsection (a), shall file its application for accreditation within six (6) months of the effective date of this section. Such accreditation shall be obtained within eighteen (18) months of the effective date of this section. A facility which begins conducting and processing of magnetic resonance imaging examinations after the effective date of this section shall file its application for accreditation within six (6) months of the date of initiation of the magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Such accreditation shall be obtained within eighteen (18) months of the date of the initiation of the magnetic resonance imaging examinations. After such accreditation is obtained, a facility conducting and processing magnetic resonance imaging examinations shall, at all times, maintain accreditation with the appropriate accrediting body. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any facility which has filed for accreditation pursuant to this subsection (b) and which has not been refused accreditation or withdrawn its application, will be deemed provisionally accredited for the eighteen (18) month period dating from the application filing date. Provided, further, that notwithstanding any provision of the general laws or public laws to the contrary, any facility conducting and processing magnetic resonance imaging examinations shall conform to the standards of the appropriate accrediting body at all times, including during the accreditation process and shall certify said conformance to any reimbursing health insurer, health maintenance organization or health plan.