Bill calls for repeal of Medicare payments cuts for imaging
U.S. House of Representatives member Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) recently introduced House Resolution (HR5238) which takes aim at imaging reimbursement cuts that are included in the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 passed by the House of Representatives in February of this year. McCarthy’s resolution calls for the repeal of the cuts.
The original DRA created Medicare reimbursement cuts for out-of-hospital medical imaging procedures which could have led to the possibility of physicians no longer offering much-needed imaging services or limit the number of Medicare patients physicians would be willing to take. The bill, in its original form, could also cause some radiologists in rural areas to relocate to hospitals in larger cities, according to a statement by The American College of Radiology (ACR) at the time of the bill’s narrow passage.
It goes without saying that ACR supports the current resolution to repeal the cuts.
“The American College of Radiology strongly supports any legislation to repeal the ill-advised DRA imaging reimbursement cuts, which may restrict access to care and potentially discourage research and development of new technologies that would replace more invasive procedures and, ultimately, lower costs,” said James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. “The College looks forward to working with Representative McCarthy and all members of Congress to design a more reasonable and effective imaging reimbursement policy based on sound analysis of the issues involved rather than just arbitrary cost savings,” added Borgstede.
The original DRA created Medicare reimbursement cuts for out-of-hospital medical imaging procedures which could have led to the possibility of physicians no longer offering much-needed imaging services or limit the number of Medicare patients physicians would be willing to take. The bill, in its original form, could also cause some radiologists in rural areas to relocate to hospitals in larger cities, according to a statement by The American College of Radiology (ACR) at the time of the bill’s narrow passage.
It goes without saying that ACR supports the current resolution to repeal the cuts.
“The American College of Radiology strongly supports any legislation to repeal the ill-advised DRA imaging reimbursement cuts, which may restrict access to care and potentially discourage research and development of new technologies that would replace more invasive procedures and, ultimately, lower costs,” said James P. Borgstede, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. “The College looks forward to working with Representative McCarthy and all members of Congress to design a more reasonable and effective imaging reimbursement policy based on sound analysis of the issues involved rather than just arbitrary cost savings,” added Borgstede.