FW: HCFA-urgent
From: DuBose, Terry (DuboseTerryJ@exchange.uams.edu)
Thu Apr 30 10:32:42 1998
I am forwarding the following message to this list on request. It is
political, so follow your own judgement.
Peace, Terry J. DuBose, M.S., RDMS
--
> TO: ALL,
> Please post to other listserves that are sympathetic and
supportive of this cause.
> FROM Joan P Baker President SDMS
>
> Please help us help you. We urgently need assistance with a letter
writing campaign to HCFA. We were fairly confident that the Health Care
Financing Administration (HCFA) intended to reconsider the direct
supervision rule and change it back to what is common practice today, that
of General Supervision. Recent information has raised some doubt about this.
This is believed to be the result of a massive letter writing campaign
conducted by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU), regarding the
current status of the physician Supervision rule and its treatment of
ultrasound services. I am appealing to everyone on this listserv to write to
HCFA to reinforce the critical need for HCFA to permit ultrasound services
under general supervision. Given HCFA's expected timetable for a decision on
the modification to the physician supervision rule, letters should be
received by HCFA no later than May 11, 1998.
>
> Letters should make the following key points: Ultrasound services
are provided safely and effectively under general supervision. The clear
standard of practice for ultrasound services is general supervision. It is
not possible for most providers to comply with a direct supervision
requirement. Direct Supervision would create access problems and reduce
quality by forcing many quality providers to stop providing imaging
services. The letters should be individualized. Form letters are not
helpful and will not be read. The letters should begin with a description of
your position, the nature of the services provided, the locations and
patients served, (be sure to mention radiology if that is where you work),
the quality of the images produced, and the measures taken by your
institution to ensure quality. Discussion of the effect of direct
supervision on your institution, your patients, and your community will be
extremely helpful. We need at least 150 individualized letters to be
received by HCFA. We also need to know that a letter has been written.
Please FAX a copy of your letter to 202 857-6395 attention William
Sarraille. SDMS will receive a count of the number of copies received so
that we can act accordingly.
Your letter should be mailed to: Terrence Kay
> Health Care Financing Administration
> 7500 Security Boulevard
> Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
>
> Mr. Kay's facsimile number is (410) 736-0681.
