ACR urges feds to prioritize radiology in funding for 1,000 new physician residency slots

Imaging advocates are urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to prioritize radiology in new funding to create 1,000 residency slots in the coming years.

Back in December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revealed it is investing $1.8 billion to finance these new physician roles—the largest such increase in 25 years. CMS said at the time that it will target its dollars toward hospitals in rural and underserved communities, hoping to bolster health equity.

The American College of Radiology weighed in on the final rule Tuesday, asking CMS to prioritize imaging specialists in administering the funds. ACR cited a 2021 American Journal of Roentgenology study, which found that Medicare beneficiaries were 7% less likely to undergo advanced imaging at rural hospitals and 18% less so at critical access institutions.

“The ACR stresses the importance of including radiology when allocating the additional residency slots…,” CEO William Thorwarth Jr., MD, wrote in comments submitted to CMS on Feb. 22. “The growing reliance on telehealth services by patients and providers will likely lead to an increased reliance on radiology services as a continuation of care,” he added later. “As the demand for imaging services continues to increase, it is important that radiology residents receive the opportunity to further their graduate medical education.”

The feds originally outlined plans to distribute the new residency slots through the 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule. CMS expects to phase-in the additions, adding 200 residency slots annually over the next five years. Officials will announce the first round by Jan. 31, 2023, which will become effective July 1 of next year.