The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has quietly reversed itself on the new standards for Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs). Transmittal 187, which established new standards for IDTFs and was scheduled to be effective as of February 26, 2007, was rescinded without explanation. Therefore, some of the more significant changes, such as:
§ Limiting the number of sites a physician can supervise to three and expanding the supervising physician’s responsibilities to include overall operation and administration;
§ Prohibiting the sharing of facilities without a Medicare supplier; and
§ Establishing 14 specific operating standards;
will now not go into effect. Given the intent of CMS with respect to these issues, it would be careless to enter a new arrangement without considering the impact of these issues.
