Purpose of the service
To provide ACC clients requiring HTI Services , their treatment providers, and ACC, with necessary, appropriate, quality diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology, and reporting services which represent value for money and positively contribute to effective and appropriate treatment and rehabilitation of ACC covered injuries.
High tech imaging is paid in full by ACC; there are no co-payments by the client. Prices are based on relative value units (RVUs) that have been established by the RANZCR.
High tech imaging services covers the following service areas:
- magnetic resonance imaging
- computerised tomography
- nuclear medicine scans
- interventional procedures, and
- Duplex / Doppler ultrasound.
Service standards
Once the provider has received a referral for the service from a Medical Specialist they will arrange an appointment with the client for the imaging service.
A scan, or other imaging, will then be undertaken within 10 working days. If the radiologist feels the examination requested is not likely to be helpful (or less likely to be helpful than an alternative procedure), it is the responsibility of the radiologist to indicate this to the referring specialist before commencing with the study, and to amend the subsequent procedure accordingly.
Imaging reports will be produced containing the specific detail set out in the contract. These will be sent to the referring specialist within five working days of the image being undertaken. Copies may be requested by ACC when necessary.
How does a client access the service?
A written request for imaging is sent from the referring specialist to the provider. This will include details of the imaging required, relevant medical history, and the purpose of the imaging along with the claim details.
Provision for Prior Approval
In the contract extension effective 1 December 2009 there is a provision for some specified procedures to have prior approval from ACC before the radiologist can carry out the service. ACC is currently exploring how this will work and we expect to provide information about the process in mid-2010. In the meantime, all procedures can be carried out without seeking prior approval from ACC.
Qualifications required
Providers must have accreditation with International Accreditation New Zealand. Radiologists must be vocationally registered with the New Zealand Medical Council and have either fellowship or educational affiliation with the RANZCR, a licence under the Radiation Protection Act 1965, and, in the case of nuclear medicine physicians, membership of the ANZ Association of Physicians in Nuclear Medicine.
Reporting requirements
Providers are required to provide ACC with information about the referrals they have received at the end of each quarter.
The table below shows when the reports are due:
Reporting period |
Date report is due |
|---|---|
1 December 2010 – 28 February 2011 |
30 March 2011 |
1 March 2011 – 31 May 2011 |
30 June 2011 |
1 June 2011 – 31 August 2011 |
30 September 2011 |
1 September 2011 – 30 November 2011 |
30 December 2011 |
Providers need to:
- complete the HTI Vendor quarterly referrer information log template (XLS 34K)
- email their completed report to the ACC Business Analyst for HTI Services, at provider.reports@acc.co.nz.
Contracted providers
To view the list of the contracted providers for high-tech imaging services, see High tech imaging contracted vendors (PDF 41K).
Published: 22 February 2011