MIPPA Accreditation for Advanced Imaging Services
CMS-Approved Accreditation
Effective January 1, 2012, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) enacted measures to improve the safety, quality, and oversight of advanced diagnostic imaging services. According to this law, any facility—excluding hospitals and critical access hospitals—that bills Medicare for CT, MRI, PET, or nuclear medicine services must obtain accreditation from a CMS-approved accrediting organization to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. This ensures that advanced diagnostic imaging services meet consistent standards for clinical quality, radiation safety, equipment performance, and personnel qualifications.
Currently, CMS approves four accrediting organizations to evaluate and certify facilities:
- American College of Radiology (ACR)
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)
- RadSite
Accrediting Organizations
Choosing the right accreditor depends on a facility’s size, service mix, budget, and operational goals. Below is a comparison of these organizations and a summary of the shared accreditation requirements they enforce.
CMS-Approved Accrediting Organizations Comparison
|
Accrediting Body |
Pros |
Cons |
|
- Radiology-specific expertise |
- Paperwork-heavy |
|
|
- Can align with hospital accreditation |
- Costlier for outpatient centers |
|
|
- Strong clinical protocols |
- Better known for Cardiac and Vascular imaging |
|
|
- Fast & cost-effective |
- Less clinical depth |
Shared MIPPA Accreditation Criteria (Required by all four accrediting bodies)
|
Category |
Requirement |
|
Personnel Qualifications |
Board-certified physicians and credentialed technologists (e.g., ARRT, NMTCB) |
|
Equipment Performance |
Routine QC testing; documentation of maintenance and upgrades |
|
Image Quality |
Review of QC measures or Sample image submissions evaluated for resolution, artifacts, and protocol adherence. |
|
Radiation Safety |
Dose optimization protocols; dose monitoring for CT/NM |
|
Quality Assurance |
Written QA/QI plan; peer review; error tracking and process improvement |
|
Policies & Procedures |
Exam protocols, emergency policies, appropriateness criteria |
|
Administrative Oversight |
HIPAA, infection control, documentation audits, compliance reviews |
Best Accrediting Organization by Facility Type
|
Facility Type |
Best Accrediting Organization |
Why It’s a Good Fit |
Considerations |
|
Hospitals / Health Systems |
- Aligns with existing hospital accreditation |
- Higher cost |
|
|
Outpatient Imaging Clinics |
- High credibility and recognition |
- Documentation-heavy |
|
|
Cardiology & Vascular Clinics |
- Cardiac imaging expertise |
- Limited brand recognition outside cardiac and vascular imaging |
|
|
Budget-Conscious Providers |
- Cost-effective |
- Less peer review |
Making the Right Choice
Choosing the right accrediting organization under MIPPA is not a one-size-fits-all decision—it should reflect your facility’s clinical focus, operational structure, and long-term goals. Whether you are part of a large hospital network, an independent outpatient clinic, or a specialized cardiology practice, accreditation plays a vital role in demonstrating your commitment to patient safety, image quality, and regulatory compliance. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each CMS-approved accreditor, facilities can make informed decisions that not only meet federal requirements but also support continuous improvement and excellence in diagnostic imaging services.
LANDAUER Medical Physics accreditation experts—adept in all modalities—can support your application to the American College of Radiology (ACR), Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), or RadSite. If your program is seeking accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC) or DNV, we provide all supporting physics services.
Looking for more guidance?
Contact LANDAUER today to learn more about how our credentialed medical physicists can help support your application process.
LANDAUER Practice Associate Radiation Safety Support Services
Ken is a Practice Associate with the Landauer Medical Physics Radiation Safety Support Services group. He is certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board in Radiation Safety and has been working in Radiology and radiation safety for over 24 years. Most of his career has been spent working in a community hospital where he served as the Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist and later as the Radiology Manager, in which his duties including maintaining both MRI and Radiation safety compliance. Today, he spends his time helping clients across the country with regulatory compliance and radiation safety program management.