Frequently Answered Questions

Yes it is. In April of 2020, CMS published the Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In the publication, among other policy changes, CMS altered the definition of direct supervision to include virtual presence through audio/video real-time communications technology. Thereby permitting direct supervision of contrast-enhanced exams by audio and video real-time communication, excluding audio-only formats. CMS recently reaffirmed this expanded definition of direct supervision in both the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule issued in August 2023, and the 2024 MPFS Final Rule released in November 2023. The Final Rule solidified that virtual presence through real-time audio/video communication will continue to meet CMS' direct supervision requirements through at least December 31, 2024.

As a radiologist-owned and led company, we understand the vital importance of uninterrupted contrast coverage for patients and imaging centers. That’s why we set out to create the first all-in-one solution for virtual contrast supervision - a single company that handles all of the onboarding, compliance, scheduling, and contrast supervision an imaging center may need. If you are looking to streamline contrast supervision across multiple sites, look no further than ContrastConnect.

Onboarding is streamlined through our user-friendly client portal. You can easily fill out onboarding forms, share files, provide e-signatures, schedule monthly coverage, pay invoices, and directly message our staff without the hassles of back and forth email. Our team will work closely with yours to ensure a smooth and successful onboarding process, without interruption to contrast supervision.

Patient safety drives every decision at ContrastConnect. Our team of radiologists are adept with the ACR’s contrast reaction treatment algorithms - providing peace of mind with every reaction. Multiple physicians are on-call and available concurrently ensuring every contrast reaction receives the fastest possible response, every single time. Furthermore, by leveraging real-time collaboration tools, our physicians can work together to manage rare life-threatening complications when necessary.

Simply navigate to the Contact Us page, and fill out the Contact form. One of our team members will reach out to you to learn more about your coverage needs. Alternatively, you can email us at info@contrast-connect.com to inquire about our services. We look forward to hearing from you!

Patient safety drives every decision at ContrastConnect. Our team of radiologists are adept with the ACR’s contrast reaction treatment algorithms - providing peace of mind with every reaction. Multiple physicians are on-call and available concurrently ensuring every contrast reaction receives the fastest possible response, every single time. Furthermore, by leveraging real-time collaboration tools, our physicians can work together to manage rare life-threatening complications when necessary.

Absolutely. After a reaction, patients receive a comprehensive discharge summary detailing their specific reaction, care instructions, and information about signs or symptoms that warrant further medical evaluation. Patients also receive 24/7 access to our on-call physicians for any further questions and added peace of mind.

Within seconds of notification, one of our physicians will be face-to-face with the patient and technologist. Our system alerts multiple on-call physicians simultaneously, ensuring every contrast reaction receives the fastest possible response, every single time.

Our team of supervising physicians is made up of radiologists (MDs & DOs) - experts on contrast media and best practices when handling contrast reactions. As part of the onboarding process with ContrastConnect, each physician must pass a competency exam to ensure they possess the requisite knowledge and can maintain the highest standard of care when responding to contrast reactions. Collectively, our team of radiologists has over ten thousand hours of contrast supervision experience.

Our platform adheres to the most stringent and demanding security standards set by the healthcare industry. All communication with technologists and patients is secured through end-to-end encryption, backed by SOC2 certification, and compliant with both HIPAA and HITECH regulations. These heightened measures ensure the highest form of data and patient protection.

We provide each imaging site with a secure and reliable tablet device to ensure a seamless real-time audio/video connection between the technologist, patient, and physician. Our devices are configured specifically for each imaging site and require minimal input from your team during deployment.

We offer four different coverage plans for maximum flexibility across your imaging sites. Whether you require coverage every day throughout the month or occasional coverage in the evenings, we have a coverage tier that suits your needs. Additionally, you can select different coverage plans at different sites to optimize coverage based on your specific needs.

As many as you need. Our system and services were designed to scale seamlessly across any number of imaging sites, without compromising on patient safety.

In the unlikely event the system malfunctions or outages occur, we have procedures in place to bring you back online quickly with minimal interruption. Furthermore, you will have around-the-clock access to our support staff should you ever have any questions or concerns about the system or connection.

There are no restrictions to supervision hours. To afford you the maximum flexibility in scheduling exams and peace of mind when you are running behind schedule, our standard hours of supervision are extended at baseline, with additional hours available upon request. Enjoy the convenience of starting exams earlier in the morning and continue scanning later into the evening, even on weekends and holidays.

ContrastConnect is an all-in-one solution designed to streamline contrast coverage across imaging centers. Working with independent contractors can be challenging from an operations perspective, requiring careful coordination of onboarding, compliance tracking, scheduling, and payroll. However, at ContrastConnect, we handle all of those tasks for you. We take care of the onboarding, compliance, scheduling, and supervision so you can focus on growing your business and scheduling patient exams rather than supervision logistics.

As a radiologist-owned and led company, we understand the vital importance of uninterrupted contrast coverage for patients and imaging centers. That’s why we set out to create the first all-in-one solution for virtual contrast supervision - a single company that handles all of the onboarding, compliance, scheduling, and contrast supervision an imaging site may need. If you are looking to streamline contrast supervision across multiple sites, look no further than ContrastConnect.

Onboarding is streamlined through our user-friendly client portal. You can easily fill out onboarding forms, share files, provide e-signatures, schedule monthly coverage, pay invoices, and directly message our staff without the hassles of back and forth email. Our team will work closely with yours to ensure a smooth and successful onboarding process, without interruption to contrast supervision.

Simply navigate to the Contact Us page, and fill out the Contact form. One of our team members will reach out to you to learn more about your coverage needs. Alternatively, you can email us at info@contrast-connect.com to inquire about our services. We look forward to hearing from you!

Absolutely. As part of the onboarding process, technologists are provided with a web-based fully interactive program to familiarize them with the proper administration of medication and management of adverse reactions. Upon completion of the course, technologists will gain the knowledge and confidence to safely and competently administer medications under the supervision and guidance of our physicians.

We provide simplified quickguides for technologists to reference as a refresher whenever they want. Quickguides are based on the ACR’s published treatment guidelines and follow the current standard of care for treating contrast reactions.

Yes it is. In April of 2020, CMS published the Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In the publication, among other policy changes, CMS altered the definition of direct supervision to include virtual presence through audio/video real-time communications technology. Thereby permitting direct supervision of contrast-enhanced exams by audio and video real-time communication, excluding audio-only formats. CMS recently reaffirmed this expanded definition of direct supervision in both the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule issued in August 2023, and the 2024 MPFS Final Rule released in November 2023. The Final Rule solidified that virtual presence through real-time audio/video communication will continue to meet CMS' direct supervision requirements through at least December 31, 2024.

While the altered definition of direct supervision policy is set to expire at the end of 2024, CMS has now extended the policy twice since April of 2020, citing concern that reversion to pre-PHE policy could limit access to services for many people. Furthermore, the absence of evidence demonstrating virtual direct supervision compromises patient safety coupled with the clear benefits to improved patient access, reduced resource strain, and reduced healthcare costs, the advantages of continuing virtual supervision decisively outweigh any risks. As such, we firmly believe that the ruling will become permanent.

Regulations around virtual supervision vary by state, and CMS guidelines do not override state or local government regulations. Some states prohibit virtual supervision entirely, while others require special permits granted on a case-by-case basis. For partners operating in states with stricter regulations, we may be able to assist with requesting exceptions from the appropriate state department. Our partners have successfully obtained these special permits before. We're happy to help guide you through this process if virtual supervision is something you'd like to implement in a regulated state.

Absolutely. We understand how confusing and challenging it may be to navigate state and local laws. Rest assured that we have successfully guided other clients through similar situations and are ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, and we’ll be happy to provide clarity on the regulations in your state.