IDTF Billing Guide
Interpreting Physicians and Personnel (Technicians) Who Perform Tests
An IDTF may be either a mobile or stationary/fixed facility.
Portable/Mobile Facility
There are two types of mobile IDTFs. Each are large vehicles such as a trailer, mobile home, etc.
- The portable unit transports diagnostic equipment to different fixed locations (i.e. SNF, physician office)
- The mobile facility is a licensed, converted large vehicle that is equipped to provide diagnostic testing to patients inside the vehicle.
Mobile IDTFs travel and perform diagnostic tests at various locations; therefore, they do not have a single practice location.
The mobile IDTF is required to list their geographic service areas on their Medicare enrollment application. Each vehicle must be separately enrolled into Medicare.
A mobile IDTF that provides X-ray services is not classified as a portable X-ray supplier; therefore, it cannot bill for transportation (HCPCS R0070) and setup (HCPCS Q0092).
Fixed/Stationary Site Facility
A fixed IDTF is defined as a facility that renders diagnostic testing services at one practice location.
The fixed IDTF does not:
- share a practice location with another Medicare-enrolled individual or organization,
- lease or sublease its operations or its practice location to another Medicare-enrolled individual or organization or
- share their diagnostic testing equipment with another Medicare-enrolled individual or organization.
An IDTF must employ medical technicians who are responsible for performing the diagnostic test on the patient.
IDTFs are not required to employ interpreting physicians. The professional interpretation of a diagnostic test may be billed separately.
Example: A physician bills a claim for the professional component of a procedure code with modifier 26 and the IDTF bills for the technical component of a procedure code with modifier TC.
Technician and Interpreting Physician Requirements
Technician
- Must meet the certification and/or license standards of the state in which tests are performed at the time of the IDTF enrollment and/or at the time any tests are performed
- Copies of all documentation verifying their certification/license must be included with the enrollment application.
- Must be qualified to perform the types of tests (procedure codes) listed in the enrollment application
Interpreting Physician
- Must be licensed to practice in the state where the diagnostic tests they supervise will be performed
- Must be qualified to interpret the types of tests (procedure codes) listed in the enrollment application
- Must be actively enrolled in Medicare as an individual provider (855I)
- Are employed by the IDTF and will not have their benefits reassigned to the IDTF
Related Content
- CMS IOM Publication 100-01, Medicare General Information, Eligibility and Entitlement Manual, Chapter 5, Section 90.4
- CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1, Section 30.2.6
- CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims, Chapter 35
- CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 10, Sections 10.6.5 and 10.2.2.4
- MLN® Booklet: Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility
- Federal Register 42 CFR, Public Health 416.5, 410.33
Revised 11/16/2023