All portable X-ray services performed for Medicare beneficiaries are ordered by a physician or a nonphysician practitioner as provided in §410.32(a) of this chapter or by a nonphysician practitioner as provided in §410.32(a)(2) and records are properly preserved.

(a) Standard—referral by a physician or nonphysician practitioners. Portable X-ray examinations are performed only on the order of a physician licensed to practice in the State or by a nonphysician practitioner acting within the scope of State law. Such nonphysician practitioners may be treated the same as physicians treating beneficiaries for the purpose of this paragraph. The supplier's records show that:

(1) The portable X-ray test was ordered by a licensed physician or a nonphysician practitioner acting within the State scope of law; and

(2) Such physician or non-physician practitioner's order meets the requirements at §410.32 of this chapter, and includes a statement concerning the condition of the patient which indicates why portable X-ray services are necessary.

(b) Standard—records of examinations performed. The supplier makes for each patient a record of the date of the portable X-ray examination, the name of the patient, a description of the procedures ordered and performed, the referring physician or nonphysician practitioner, the operator(s) of the portable X-ray equipment who performed the examination, the physician to whom the radiograph was sent, and the date it was sent.

(c) Standard—preservation of records. Such reports are maintained for a period of at least 2 years, or for the period of time required by State law for such records (as distinguished from requirements as to the radiograph itself), whichever is longer.

[34 FR 388, Jan. 10, 1969. Redesignated at 42 FR 52826, Sept. 30, 1977. Further redesignated and amended at 60 FR 2326, Jan. 9, 1995; 60 FR 45086, Aug. 30, 1995; 77 FR 69372, Nov. 16, 2012; 84 FR 51830, Sept. 30, 2019]