in-cyprus 3 July 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has announced new requirements for the inclusion of radiological centres in the GHS system. These include the mandatory presence of a radiologist during all imaging examinations, compulsory annual maintenance of CT and MRI scanners, and the digital archiving of all images.
Radiological centres currently operating within the system must comply with these requirements by 1 January 2025, or they may face contract suspension.
In addition to these requirements, the HIO has established quality criteria that will influence the reimbursement rates for these centres. One such criterion is the age of the equipment used.
The HIO’s plans have been presented to all relevant scientific and professional associations and stakeholders, who have been invited to provide feedback.
According to a written update sent by the HIO to GHS providers, the goal of these measures is to “optimise the healthcare services provided”.
The HIO states that “in the absence of other legislative frameworks regulating the operation of these centres, additional conditions will be implemented for radiological centres to meet in order to provide services within the GHS system”.
The additional conditions, effective from next year, include:
- The mandatory presence of a radiologist during all imaging procedures. All radiology examinations submitted for reimbursement must include the name of the radiologist present during the examination.
- Scheduled maintenance of CT and MRI systems and subsequent quality control, as well as digital archiving of all images. Radiological centres must ensure secure and effective digital archiving of all images. Maintenance of CT and MRI scanners must be carried out at the frequency specified by the manufacturer, or at least annually if no frequency is specified.
Regarding the quality criteria for calculating reimbursement rates, the HIO’s plans include:
- The age of the equipment used in CT and MRI imaging.
- The technology employed in CT and MRI scanners.
- Certification of radiological centres with the CYS ISO 7101:2023 standard.
- Compliance with imaging protocols to be implemented by the HIO in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“The age of the equipment, as determined by the year of production or a relevant system upgrade, must be supported by the necessary certificates and declarations. Systems falling within the 11-15-year age category may be immediately upgraded to the previous 0-10-year category. For any system exceeding 11 years of age, an annual declaration from the manufacturer confirming continued support for the respective model with the necessary spare parts will be required.”
Private sector disagreement
The quality criteria set by the HIO are divided into two categories: those pertaining to CT and MRI scanners and those related to “other imaging procedures”. The first category, concerning CT and MRI scans, will be implemented initially.
Private sector stakeholders in this field expressed strong disagreement with the HIO’s criteria about ten days ago, arguing that if implemented, a significant proportion of existing centres would be forced to suspend their operations.
They further contend that the criteria chosen by the HIO are primarily financially driven.
The HIO’s plans may undergo some modifications following the consideration of feedback and suggestions provided by the relevant stakeholders.
