Ftag of the Week Reference
483.50 — Laboratory, Radiology and Other Diagnostic Services (F770–F779)
The Laboratory, Radiology and Other Diagnostic Services regulatory group covers how facilities obtain lab and imaging services for residents — who can order them, how quickly results reach the practitioner, how residents get to appointments, and what must be filed in the clinical record. Delays in these services can mean delays in treatment.
F770 – F779
Laboratory, Radiology and Other Diagnostic Services — F-Tag Analysis
Laboratory Services
Requirements for providing or obtaining laboratory services to meet residents’ needs, and the facility’s responsibility for their quality and timeliness — including when a CLIA certificate applies to testing done in the facility.
Blood Bank and Transfusion Services
Requirements for facilities that provide blood bank and transfusion services, including the identification of the recipient and the competencies of staff who administer blood or blood components.
Lab Services Not Provided On-Site
Requirements for the agreement a facility must have with an outside laboratory when lab services are not provided on site.
Lab Services Physician Order/Notify of Results
Requirements for obtaining lab services only when ordered by an authorized practitioner, and for promptly notifying the ordering practitioner of results that fall outside clinical reference ranges.
Assist with Transport Arrangements to Lab Services
Requirements for assisting a resident who needs help making transportation arrangements to and from the source of lab services — and why citations can involve appointments of any kind.
Lab Reports in Record – Lab Name/Address
Requirements for filing lab reports in the resident’s clinical record that are dated and contain the name and address of the testing laboratory.
Radiology/Other Diagnostic Services
Requirements for providing or obtaining radiology and other diagnostic services to meet residents’ needs, and the facility’s responsibility for their quality and timeliness, whether services are in-house or from an outside provider.
Radiology/Diagnostic Services Orders/Notify Results
Requirements for providing or obtaining radiology and diagnostic services only when ordered by an authorized practitioner, and for promptly notifying the ordering practitioner of results.
Assist with Transport Arrangements to Radiology
Requirements for assisting a resident who needs help making transportation arrangements to and from radiology and other diagnostic services.
X-Ray/Diagnostic Report in Record – Signed/Dated
Requirements for filing signed and dated reports of radiologic and other diagnostic services in the resident’s clinical record.
Need Support with Lab and Diagnostic Services Compliance?
CMSCG’s consultants provide chart auditing, policy review and clinical compliance support to help facilities identify gaps in ordering, results notification and record documentation before a surveyor does.