Part I. Definitions and General Information
12VAC5-230-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Acute psychiatric services" means hospital-based inpatient psychiatric services provided in distinct inpatient units in general hospitals or freestanding psychiatric hospitals.
"Acute substance abuse disorder treatment services" means short-term hospital-based inpatient treatment services with access to the resources of (i) a general hospital, (ii) a psychiatric unit in a general hospital, (iii) an acute care addiction treatment unit in a general hospital licensed by the Department of Health, or (iv) a chemical dependency specialty hospital with acute care medical and nursing staff and life support equipment licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
"Bassinet" means an infant care station, including warming stations and isolettes.
"Bed" means that unit, within the complement of a medical care facility, subject to COPN review as required by Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of the Code of Virginia and designated for use by patients of the facility or service. For the purposes of this chapter, bed does include cribs and bassinets used for pediatric patients but does not include cribs and bassinets in the newborn nursery or neonatal special care setting.
"Cardiac catheterization" means an invasive procedure where a flexible tube is inserted into the patient through an extremity blood vessel and advanced under fluoroscopic guidance into the heart chambers or coronary arteries. A cardiac catheterization may be conducted for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes but does not include a simple right heart catheterization for monitoring purposes as might be performed in an electrophysiology laboratory, pulmonary angiography as an isolated procedure, or cardiac pacing through a right electrode catheter.
"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner.
"Competing applications" means applications for the same or similar services and facilities that are proposed for the same health planning district, or same health planning region for projects reviewed on a regional basis, and are in the same batch review cycle.
"Complex therapeutic cardiac catheterization" means the performance of cardiac catheterization for the purpose of correcting or improving certain conditions that have been determined to exist in the heart or great arteries or veins of the heart, specifically catheter-based procedures for structural treatment to correct congenital or acquired structural or valvular abnormalities.
"Computed tomography" or "CT" means a noninvasive diagnostic technology that uses computer analysis of a series of cross-sectional scans made along a single axis of a bodily structure or tissue to construct an image of that structure.
"Continuing care retirement community" or "CCRC" means a retirement community consistent with the requirements of Chapter 49 (§ 38.2-4900 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia.
"COPN" means a Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need for a project as required in Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"COPN program" means the Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need Program implementing Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"DEP" means diagnostic equivalent procedure, a method for weighing the relative value of various cardiac catheterization procedures as follows: a diagnostic cardiac catheterization equals 1 DEP, a simple therapeutic cardiac catheterization equals 2 DEPs, a same session procedure (diagnostic and simple therapeutic) equals 3 DEPs, and a complex therapeutic cardiac catheterization equals 5 DEPs. A multiplier of 2 will be applied for a pediatric procedure (i.e., a pediatric diagnostic cardiac catheterization equals 2 DEPs, a pediatric simple therapeutic cardiac catheterization equals 4 DEPs, and a pediatric complex therapeutic cardiac catheterization equals 10 DEPs.)
"Diagnostic cardiac catheterization" means the performance of cardiac catheterization for the purpose of detecting and identifying defects in the great arteries or veins of the heart or abnormalities in the heart structure, whether congenital or acquired.
"Direction" means guidance, supervision, or management of a function or activity.
"Gamma knife®" means the name of a specific instrument used in stereotactic radiosurgery.
"Health planning district" means the same contiguous areas designated as planning districts by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development or its successor.
"Health planning region" means a contiguous geographic area of the Commonwealth as designated by the State Board of Health with a population base of at least 500,000 persons, characterized by the availability of multiple levels of medical care services, reasonable travel time for tertiary care, and congruence with planning districts.
"Health system" means an organization of two or more medical care facilities, including hospitals, that are under common ownership or control and are located within the same health planning district, or health planning region for projects reviewed on a regional basis.
"Hospital" means a medical care facility licensed as an inpatient hospital or outpatient surgical center by the Department of Health or as a psychiatric hospital by the Department of Behavioral Health, and Developmental Services.
"ICF/MR" means an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded.
"Indigent" means any person whose gross family income is equal to or less than 200% of the federal Nonfarm Poverty Level or income levels A through E of 12VAC5-200-10 and who is uninsured.
"Inpatient" means a patient who is hospitalized longer than 24 hours for health or health related services.
"Intensive care beds" or "ICU" means inpatient beds located in the following units or categories:
1. General intensive care units are those units where patients are concentrated by reason of serious illness or injury regardless of diagnosis. Special lifesaving techniques and equipment are immediately available and patients are under continuous observation by nursing staff;
2. Cardiac care units, also known as Coronary Care Units or CCUs, are units staffed and equipped solely for the intensive care of cardiac patients; and
3. Specialized intensive care units are any units with specialized staff and equipment for the purpose of providing care to seriously ill or injured patients based on age selected categories of diagnoses, including units established for burn care, trauma care, neurological care, pediatric care, and cardiac surgery recovery but does not include bassinets in neonatal special care units.
"Lithotripsy" means a noninvasive therapeutic procedure to (i) crush renal and biliary stones using shock waves (i.e., renal lithotripsy) or (ii) treat certain musculoskeletal conditions and relieve the pain associated with tendonitis (i.e., orthopedic lithotripsy).
"Long-term acute care hospital" or "LTACH" means an inpatient hospital that provides care for patients who require a length of stay greater than 25 days and is, or proposes to be, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a long-term care inpatient hospital pursuant to 42 CFR Part 412. An LTACH may be either a freestanding facility or located within an existing or host hospital.
"Magnetic resonance imaging" or "MRI" means a noninvasive diagnostic technology using a nuclear spectrometer to produce electronic images of specific atoms and molecular structures in solids, especially human cells, tissues and organs.
"Medical rehabilitation" means those services provided consistent with 42 CFR 412.23 nd 412.24.
"Medical/surgical" means those services available for the care and treatment of patients not requiring specialized services.
"Minimum survival rates" means the base percentage of transplant recipients who survive at least one year or for such other period of time as specified by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
"Neonatal special care" means care for infants in one or more of the higher service levels designated in 12VAC5-410-443 .
"Nursing facility" means those facilities or components thereof licensed to provide long-term nursing care.
"Obstetrical services" means the distinct organized program, equipment and care related to pregnancy and the delivery of newborns in inpatient facilities.
"Off-site replacement" means the relocation of existing beds or services from an existing medical care facility site to another location within the same health planning district.
"Open heart surgery" means a surgical procedure requiring the use or immediate availability of a heart-lung bypass machine or "pump." The use of the pump during the procedure distinguishes "open heart" from "closed heart" surgery.
"Operating room" means a room used solely or principally for the provision of surgical procedures involving the administration of anesthesia, multiple personnel, recovery room access, and a fully controlled environment.
"Operating room use" means the amount of time a patient occupies an operating room and includes room preparation and cleanup time.
"Operating room visit" means one session in one operating room in an inpatient hospital or outpatient surgical center, which may involve several procedures. Operating room visit may be used interchangeably with "operation" or "case."
"Outpatient" means a patient who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated medical care facility for diagnosis or treatment, but is not hospitalized 24 hours or longer.
"Pediatric" means patients younger than 18 years of age. Newborns in nurseries are excluded from this definition.
"Perinatal services" means those resources and capabilities that all hospitals offering general level newborn services as described in 12VAC5-410-443 must provide routinely to newborns.
"PET/CT scanner" means a single machine capable of producing a PET image with a concurrently produced CT image overlay to provide anatomic definition to the PET image. For the purpose of granting a COPN, the State Board of Health pursuant to § 32.1-102.2 A 6 of the Code of Virginia has designated PET/CT as a specialty clinical service. A PET/CT scanner shall be reviewed under the PET criteria as an enhanced PET scanner unless the CT unit will be used independently. In such cases, a PET/CT scanner that will be used to take independent PET and CT images will be reviewed under the applicable PET and CT services criteria.
"Planning horizon year" means the particular year for which bed or service needs are projected.
"Population" means the census figures shown in the most current series of projections published by a demographic entity as determined by the commissioner.
"Positron emission tomography" or "PET" means a noninvasive diagnostic or imaging modality using the computer-generated image of local metabolic and physiological functions in tissues produced through the detection of gamma rays emitted when introduced radionuclides decay and release positrons. A PET device or scanner may include an integrated CT to provide anatomic structure definition.
"Primary service area" means the geographic territory from which 75% of the patients of an existing medical care facility originate with respect to a particular service being sought in an application.
"Procedure" means a study or treatment or a combination of studies and treatments identified by a distinct ICD-10 or CPT code performed in a single session on a single patient.
"Qualified" means meeting current legal requirements of licensure, registration, or certification in Virginia or having appropriate training, including competency testing, and experience commensurate with assigned responsibilities.
"Radiation therapy" means treatment using ionizing radiation to destroy diseased cells and for the relief of symptoms. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy.
"Relevant reporting period" means the most recent 12-month period, prior to the beginning of the applicable batch review cycle, for which data is available from VHI or a demographic entity as determined by the commissioner.
"Rural" means territory, population, and housing units that are classified as "rural" by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration.
"Simple therapeutic cardiac catheterization" means the performance of cardiac catheterization for the purpose of correcting or improving certain conditions that have been determined to exist in the heart, specifically catheter-based treatment procedures for relieving coronary artery narrowing.
"SMFP" means the state medical facilities plan as contained in Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia used to make medical care facilities and services needs decisions.
"Stereotactic radiosurgery" or "SRS" means the use of external radiation in conjunction with a stereotactic guidance device to very precisely deliver a therapeutic dose to a tissue volume. SRS may be delivered in a single session or in a fractionated course of treatment up to five sessions.
"Stereotactic radiotherapy" or "SRT" means more than one session of stereotactic radiosurgery.
"Substance abuse disorder treatment services" means services provided to individuals for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or palliation of chemical dependency, which may include attendant medical and psychiatric complications of chemical dependency. Substance abuse disorder treatment services are licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health, and Developmental Services.
"Supervision" means to direct and watch over the work and performance of others.
"Use rate" means the rate at which an age cohort or the population uses medical facilities and services. The rates are determined from periodic patient origin surveys conducted for the department by the regional health planning agencies or other health statistical reports authorized by Chapter 7.2 (§ 32.1-276.2 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"VHI" means the health data organization defined in § 32.1-276.4 of the Code of Virginia and under contract with the Virginia Department of Health.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR355-30-100 § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 8, eff. February 3, 2003; Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009; Errata, 25:11 VA.R. 2018 February 2, 2009; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. March 31, 2021.
12VAC5-230-20. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR355-30-100 § 2, eff. July 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 8, eff. February 3, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-30. Guiding principles in the development of project review criteria and standards.
The following general principles serve as the basis for the development of the review criteria and standards for specific medical care facilities and services contained in this document:
1. The COPN program is based on the understanding that excess capacity or underutilization of medical facilities are detrimental to both cost effectiveness and quality of medical services in Virginia.
2. The COPN program seeks the geographical distribution of medical facilities and to promote the availability and accessibility of proven technologies.
3. The COPN program seeks to promote the development and maintenance of services and access to those services by every person who needs them without respect to their ability to pay.
4. The COPN program seeks to encourage the conversion of facilities to new and efficient uses and the reallocation of resources to meet evolving community needs.
5. The COPN program discourages the proliferation of services that would undermine the ability of essential community providers to maintain their financial viability.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR355-30-100 § 3, eff. July 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-40. General application filing criteria.
A. In addition to meeting the applicable requirements of this chapter, applicants for a Certificate of Public Need shall include documentation in their application that their project addresses the applicable requirements listed in § 32.1-102.3 of the Code of Virginia.
B. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to produce information and evidence that the project is consistent with the applicable requirements and review policies as required under Article 1.1 (§ 32.1-102.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.
C. The commissioner may condition the approval of a COPN by requiring an applicant to: (i) provide a level of care at a reduced rate to indigents, (ii) accept patients requiring specialized care, or (iii) facilitate the development and operation of primary medical care services in designated medically underserved areas of the applicant's service area. The applicant must actively seek to comply with the conditions place on any granted COPN.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-50. Project costs.
The capital development costs of a facility and the operating expenses of providing the authorized services should be comparable to the costs and expenses of similar facilities with the health planning region.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-60. When competing applications received.
In reviewing competing applications, preference may be given to an applicant who:
1. Has an established performance record in completing projects on time and within the authorized operating expenses and capital costs;
2. Has both lower capital costs and operating expenses than his competitors and can demonstrate that his estimates are credible;
3. Can demonstrate a consistent compliance with state licensure and federal certification regulations and a consistent history of few documented complaints, where applicable; or
4. Can demonstrate a commitment to serving his community or service area as evidenced by unreimbursed services to the indigent and providing needed but unprofitable services, taking into account the demands of the particular service area.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009; Errata, 25:11 VA.R. 2018 February 2, 2009.
12VAC5-230-70. Calculation of utilization of services provided with mobile equipment.
A. The minimum service volume of a mobile unit shall be prorated on a site-by-site basis reflecting the amount of time that proposed mobile units will be used, and existing mobile units have been used, during the relevant reporting period, at each site using the following formula:
| Required full-time minimum service volume | X | Number of days the service will be on site each week | X 0.2 = | Prorated minimum services volume (not to exceed the required full-time minimum service volume) |
B. The average annual utilization of existing and approved CT, MRI, PET, lithotripsy, and catheterization services in a health planning district shall be calculated for such services as follows:
| (
| Total volume of all units of the relevant service in the reporting period | ) X 100 = % Average Utilization
| ||||
| ( | # of existing or approved fixed units | X | Fixed unit minimum service volume | ) + Y Utilization | ||
Y = the sum of the minimum service volume of each mobile site in the health planning district with the minimum services volume for each such site prorated according to subsection A of this section.
C. This section does not prohibit an applicant from seeking to obtain a COPN for a fixed site service provided capacity for the services has been achieved as described in the applicable service section.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009; Errata, 25:11 VA.R. 2018 February 2, 2009.
12VAC5-230-80. When institutional expansion needed.
A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the commissioner may grant approval for the expansion of services at an existing medical care facility in a health planning district with an excess supply of such services when the proposed expansion can be justified on the basis of a facility's need having exceeded its current service capacity to provide such service or on the geographic remoteness of the facility.
B. If a facility with an institutional need to expand is part of a health system, the underutilized services at other facilities within the health system should be reallocated, when appropriate, to the facility with the institutional need to expand before additional services are approved for the applicant. However, underutilized services located at a health system's geographically remote facility may be disregarded when determining institutional need for the proposed project.
C. This section is not applicable to nursing facilities pursuant to § 32.1-102.3:2 of the Code of Virginia.
D. Applicants shall not use this section to justify a need to establish new services.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009; Errata, 25:11 VA.R. 2018 February 2, 2009.
12VAC5-230-90. Travel time.
Article 1
Criteria and Standards for Computed Tomography
CT services should be within 30 minutes driving time one way under normal conditions of 95% of the population of the health planning district using a mapping software as determined by the commissioner.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-100. Need for new fixed site or mobile service.
A. No new fixed site or mobile CT service should be approved unless fixed site CT services in the health planning district performed an average of 7,400 procedures per existing and approved CT scanner during the relevant reporting period and the proposed new service would not significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district. The utilization of existing scanners operated by a hospital and serving an area distinct from the proposed new service site may be disregarded in computing the average utilization of CT scanners in such health planning district.
B. Existing CT scanners used solely for simulation with radiation therapy treatment shall be exempt from the utilization criteria of this article when applying for a COPN. In addition, existing CT scanners used solely for simulation with radiation therapy treatment may be disregarded in computing the average utilization of CT scanners in such health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-110. Expansion of fixed site service.
Proposals to expand an existing medical care facility's CT service through the addition of a CT scanner should be approved when the existing services performed an average of 7,400 procedures per scanner for the relevant reporting period. The commissioner may authorize placement of a new unit at the applicant's existing medical care facility or at a separate location within the applicant's primary service area for CT services, provided the proposed expansion is not likely to significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009; Errata, 25:11 VA.R. 2018 February 2, 2009.
12VAC5-230-120. Adding or expanding mobile CT services.
A. Proposals for mobile CT scanners shall demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, at least 4,800 procedures were performed and that the proposed mobile unit will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing CT providers in the health planning district.
B. Proposals to convert authorized mobile CT scanners to fixed site scanners shall demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, at least 6,000 procedures were performed by the mobile scanner and that the proposed conversion will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing CT providers in the health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-130. Staffing.
CT services should be under the direction or supervision of one or more qualified physicians.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
Article 2
Criteria and Standards for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
12VAC5-230-140. Travel time.
Article 2
Criteria and Standards for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI services should be within 30 minutes driving time one way under normal conditions of 95% of the population of the health planning district using a mapping software as determined by the commissioner.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-150. Need for new fixed site service.
No new fixed site MRI services should be approved unless fixed site MRI services in the health planning district performed an average of 5,000 procedures per existing and approved fixed site MRI scanner during the relevant reporting period and the proposed new service would not significantly reduce the utilization of existing fixed site MRI providers in the health planning district. The utilization of existing scanners operated by a hospital and serving an area distinct from the proposed new service site may be disregarded in computing the average utilization of MRI scanners in such health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-160. Expansion of fixed site service.
Proposals to expand an existing medical care facility's MRI services through the addition of an MRI scanner may be approved when the existing service performed an average of 5,000 MRI procedures per scanner during the relevant reporting period. The commissioner may authorize placement of the new unit at the applicant's existing medical care facility, or at a separate location within the applicant's primary service area for MRI services, provided the proposed expansion is not likely to significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-170. Adding or expanding mobile MRI services.
A. Proposals for mobile MRI scanners shall demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, at least 2,400 procedures were performed and that the proposed mobile unit will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing MRI providers in the health planning district.
B. Proposals to convert authorized mobile MRI scanners to fixed site scanners shall demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, 3,000 procedures were performed by the mobile scanner and that the proposed conversion will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing MRI providers in the health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-180. Staffing.
MRI services should be under the direct supervision of one or more qualified physicians.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
Article 3
Magnetic Source Imaging
12VAC5-230-190. Policy for the development of MSI services.
Article 3
Magnetic Source Imaging
Because Magnetic Source Imaging (MSI) scanning systems are still in the clinical research stage of development with no third-party payment available for clinical applications, and because it is uncertain as to how rapidly this technology will reach a point where it is shown to be clinically suitable for widespread use and distribution on a cost-effective basis, it is preferred that the entry and development of this technology in Virginia should initially occur at or in affiliation with, the academic medical centers in the state.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
Article 4
Positron Emission Tomography
12VAC5-230-200. Travel time.
Article 4
Positron Emission Tomography
PET services should be within 60 minutes driving time one way under normal conditions of 95% of the health planning district using a mapping software as determined by the commissioner.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-210. Need for new fixed site service.
A. If the applicant is a hospital, whether free-standing or within a hospital system, 850 new PET appropriate cases shall have been diagnosed and the hospital shall have provided radiation therapy services with specific ancillary services suitable for the equipment before a new fixed site PET service should be approved for the health planning district.
B. No new fixed site PET services should be approved unless an average of 6,000 procedures per existing and approved fixed site PET scanner were performed in the health planning district during the relevant reporting period and the proposed new service would not significantly reduce the utilization of existing fixed site PET providers in the health planning district . The utilization of existing scanners operated by a hospital and serving an area distinct from the proposed new service site may be disregarded in computing the average utilization of PET units in such health planning district.
Note: For the purposes of tracking volume utilization, an image taken with a PET/CT scanner that takes concurrent PET/CT images shall be counted as one PET procedure. Images made with PET/CT scanners that can take PET or CT images independently shall be counted as individual PET procedures and CT procedures respectively, unless those images are made concurrently.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-220. Expansion of fixed site services.
Proposals to increase the number of PET scanners in an existing PET service should be approved only when the existing scanners performed an average of 6,000 procedures for the relevant reporting period and the proposed expansion would not significantly reduce the utilization of existing fixed site providers in the health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-230. Adding or expansing mobile PET or PET/CT services.
A. Proposals for mobile PET or PET/CT scanners should demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, at least 230 PET or PET/CT appropriate patients were seen and that the proposed mobile unit will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district.
B. Proposals to convert authorized mobile PET or PET/CT scanners to fixed site scanners should demonstrate that, for the relevant reporting period, at least 1,400 procedures were performed by the mobile scanner and that the proposed conversion will not significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district .
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-240. Staffing.
PET services should be under the direction or supervision of one or more qualified physicians. Such physicians shall be designated or authorized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or licensed by the Division of Radiologic Health of the Virginia Department of Health, as applicable.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
Article 5
Noncardiac Nuclear Imaging Criteria and Standards
12VAC5-230-250. Travel time.
Article 5
Noncardiac Nuclear Imaging Criteria and Standards
Noncardiac nuclear imaging services should be available within 30 minutes driving time one way under normal driving conditions of 95% of the population of the health planning district using a mapping software as determined by the commissioner.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-260. Need for new service.
No new noncardiac imaging services should be approved unless the service can achieve a minimum utilization level of:
1. 650 procedures in the first 12 months of operation;
2. 1,000 procedures in the second 12 months of service; and
3. The proposed new service would not significantly reduce the utilization of existing providers in the health planning district.
Note: The utilization of an existing service operated by a hospital and serving an area distinct from the proposed new service site may be disregarded in computing the average utilization of noncardiac nuclear imaging services in such health planning district.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.
12VAC5-230-270. Staffing.
The proposed new or expanded noncardiac nuclear imaging service should be under the direction or supervision of one or more qualified physicians designated or authorized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the Division of Radiologic Health of the Virginia Department of Health, as applicable.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-102.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 9, eff. February 15, 2009.