Are precertifications required for emergency situations?
A.1. No. Patients who are directed to the Emergency Room by their primary care physician are exempt from precertification. It is not necessary for anyone to call NIA retrospectively to authorize any imaging procedure performed during an Emergency Room visit. Keep in mind, however, if the ordering physician determines an emergent clinical situation exists, outside a hospital emergency room visit or Observation/Rapid Treatment visit, the procedure may be performed with precertification. Subsequent to the exam being provided, the ordering physician should call NIA within 48 hours, or the next business day to proceed with the normal review process.
