American College of Radiology rallies support for bill to reform physician pay
The American College of Radiology is rallying support for a recently proposed bill that would reform physician pay in the Medicare program.
Introduced in July, the Patients First Act would tie radiologist reimbursement to inflation—seeking to save independent practices and reverse “decades of consolidation.” ACR on Thursday encouraged radiologists to contact their local representatives and urge them to back the House Resolution, which currently has 35 co-sponsors.
“The bipartisan Patients First Act (H.R. 9693) includes long-sought Medicare reforms that would help protect patient access to care, improve physician payment stability, reduce administrative burden, and support better healthcare outcomes,” ACR said in its alert to members.
Backed by Reps. Kim Schrier, MD, D-Wash., John Joyce, MD, R-Pa., and Greg Murphy, MD, R-N.C., the legislation would tie radiologist reimbursement to the Medicare Economic Index. It also would create a new physician-led task force at CMS to develop quality metrics that are “streamlined and reduce administrative burden.” Plus, it would increase the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $54.3 million, helping stave off annual doc pay cuts, among other changes.
Lawmakers also have incorporated language relating to the stalled imaging appropriate use criteria program, which would require docs to consult decision support before ordering scans. Representatives want to modify data-collection requirements in the program, seeking to “reduce burdens and barriers.” AUC is an evidence-based tool that will ensure “only necessary advance imaging services are ordered for patients,” according to the proposal.
ACR, a strong supporter of the appropriate use criteria program, estimates this portion of the bill alone could save Medicare $2 billion by reducing the number of unnecessary imaging orders over the next decade. The Patients First Act also is supported by the Radiology Business Management Association, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and others.
“Congressional support is critical to advancing these reforms. Take action today and urge your representative to cosponsor the Patients First Act,” the college said in its action alert.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.