The New York State Radiological Society, Inc.


A Chapter of the American college of Radiology

Update May 26, 2011

To All Members,

New York State Department of Health requires that all patients having a screening mammogram study have a prescription requesting such exam. This requirement comes from regulation that requires a prescription for ordering the application of radiation from radiation equipment to a patient:

16.19 Limitations on application of radiation to humans.9

(a) Diagnostic x-ray equipment. No person other than a professional practitioner, as defined in section 16.2(a)(85) of this part; a physician's assistant working under the authority of a physician in accordance with Article 37 of the Public Health Law; or, a certified nurse practitioner working in accordance with Article 139 of the Education Law, within a practice agreement with a physician, or under the authority of a Medical Director or Medical Board in an Article 28 facility, shall direct or order the application of radiation from radiation equipment, as defined in section 16.2(a)(97) of this Part to a human being... Such direction or order to apply, or application of, radiation shall be in the course of the practitioner's professional practice and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Part 89 of this Title and article 35 of the Public Health Law of the State of New York.

This includes self-referral patients and self-requesting patients. New York State regulations supersede MQSA regulations which do not require a prescription. Self-referred patients are those who come for mammography but have no health care provider, who decline a health care provider, or for whom the provider declines responsibility. Self-requesting patients are those who come for mammography, but are able to name a health care provider (or accept a health care provider offered by the facility) who accepts responsibility for that patient’s clinical breast care. If the health care provider declines to accept the mammography report from the facility, then those patients should be treated as self-referred.

Facilities that want to perform screening mammography on self referred patients need to apply to the Department of Health and comply with the regulations listed under section 16.22 of Part 16 of the Public Health Law, using the following link: http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/radiological/radon/radioactive_material_licensing/docs/part16.pdf

Facilities performing screening mammography on self referral patients still require a prescription, which must be written by a qualified person as defined in section 16.19 above. Radiologists may write the prescription for these patients. Any further questions may be addressed to me at the e-mail address below.

Sincerely,

 George Autz, MD

Chair, Mammography Committee

New York State Radiological Society

gaport @optonline.net

Update Sept 2, 2010

Radiology Surcharge Bill Defeated

Following the lobbying efforts of the New York State Radiological Society, MSSNY, New York State specialty societies, and The Emergency Coalition to Save Cancer Imaging, the Governor’s proposal to impose a surcharge on HMO’s for radiological and surgical services was not included in the Budget bills passed to date, and is not included in the Revenue Bill (A.9710-D) that passed the Assembly and Senate.

The New York State Radiological Society has a long history of actively representing the specialty of Radiology including significant involvement in legislative issues. Because of our legislative successes, the NYSRS has been awarded the Governmental Relations Award from the American College of Radiology for the past six years.

Updated Jan 31, 2010

            The Department of Health has requested each medical specialty society to inform its members that they should be sure to comply with a state law that took effect a year ago which requires each physician to update his or her profile information within the six months prior to the expiration date of such physician’s registration period, as a condition of registration renewal at the State Education Department.  The profile update is to be provided to the Department of Health.