On August 30, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published two compliance reports for Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs) in Miami (link: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-09-00560.pdf) and Los Angeles (link: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-09-00561.pdf). The reports describe unannounced site visits conducted at all fixed location IDTFs in both the Miami and Los Angeles areas.
Miami Findings – In the Miami area, the OIG noted that 27 of the 92 enrolled IDTFs were found to be non-compliant. Of note, 23 of the non-compliant IDTFs were not housed at the locations on file with CMS. The report indicates that actions were taken against 23 of the 27 non-compliant facilities in the Miami area.
Los Angeles Findings – In the Los Angeles area, 46 of the 132 enrolled IDTFs were found to be non-compliant. Of note, 24 of the non-compliant IDTFs were not housed at the locations on file with CMS. Additionally, the report indicates 22 of the IDTFs visited in the Los Angeles area were not open during business hours.
The compliance reports both Miami and Los Angeles outline the methods used by the OIG when conducting the unannounced surveys. The reports also detail the OIG’s follow-up considerations for CMS. As a result of the unannounced visits conducted in Miami and Los Angeles, the OIG has recommended that more unannounced visits be conducted. Finally, both compliance reports include information regarding the IDTF standards and can serve as helpful tools for IDTFs looking to maintain compliance with CMS requirements.
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