Revision History
Interim Accreditation
Certain fully-accredited facilities with full MQSA certificates may be eligible for a 45-day Interim Accreditation from the ACR if additional time is needed to complete the review and/or renewal process. The ACR will render the decision in these cases based on the facility’s accreditation history.
The ACR understands that, at times, a facility may not be able to complete renewal accreditation testing within the allotted 6-month time frame before their full MQSA certificate expires. Under certain conditions, a facility may apply to their accrediting body for a 45-day Interim Accreditation. In order to be eligible for Interim Accreditation, your facility must be fully-accredited and you must have already submitted testing materials to the ACR. In addition, you must have adhered to the ACR’s time frames for submitting the necessary paperwork and images. Facilities failing to meet the ACR’s time frames may have their Interim Accreditation request denied.
Contact the ACR to obtain a Request for Interim Accreditation form. Complete all requested items on the form, including providing the reason why Interim Accreditation is being requested and the steps you have taken to achieve accreditation. Send the form to the ACR as instructed.
The ACR will review your Interim Accreditation request and will contact you regarding its approval or denial. The final decision regarding approval or denial will be made when the facility has 14 days or less on their MQSA certificate.
If the ACR approves your request, we will send you an Interim Accreditation Approval Letter with an expiration date of 45 days from your current MQSA certificate expiration so you may continue to perform mammography. The FDA or state certifying body will also send you an Interim Notice with the same expiration date.
If the request is denied, the ACR will send you a denied Interim Accreditation Letter. If your request is denied, contact the ACR at (800) 227-6440 for instructions on how to resume the accreditation process in order to continue providing mammography services.
The ACR will only accept Interim Accreditation requests if there are 30 days or less on the facility’s MQSA certificate.
MQSA Certificate Extensions
Certain facilities with provisional MQSA certificates or provisional MQSA reinstatement certificates who are not currently accredited may be eligible for a 90-day extension to their MQSA certificate (one time only) from their certifying body (either the FDA or the state) if additional time is needed to complete the review and/or reinstatement process. Although the ACR makes a recommendation to the facility’s certifying body based on the facility’s accreditation history, the certifying body makes the final decision to grant or deny the extension.
In order to be eligible for an extension, your facility must be provisionally certified, and you must have already submitted testing materials to the ACR. In addition, you must have adhered to the ACR’s time frames for submitting the necessary paperwork and images. You must also provide written evidence that there would be a significant adverse impact on access to mammography in the geographic area served if you did not obtain an extension.
Contact the ACR to obtain an Extension Request form. Complete all requested items on the form including providing the reason why an extension to your MQSA certificate is being requested, the steps you have taken to achieve accreditation, and the evidence that there would be a significant adverse impact on access to mammography in the geographic area served if you did not obtain an extension. If testing materials have not been submitted, your facility must provide reasons why you could not submit testing materials. Send the form to the ACR as instructed. The final decision regarding approval or denial will be made when the facility has 14 days or less on their MQSA certificate.
After the Extension Request form is received at the ACR, we will forward your request with our recommendation to your certifying body. Once the decision to approve or deny the extension request is made by your certifying body, they will typically send, and then mail, a letter of the approval or denial to the facility. If approved, your certifying body will send you a 90-day MQSA certificate shortly after the approval has been granted. If your request is denied, contact the ACR at (800) 227-6440 for instructions on how to resume the accreditation process in order to continue providing mammography services.
Revision History for this Article | ||
Date | Section | Description of Revision(s) |
12-12-19 | All | Article created; FAQs incorporated; No criteria changes |
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