Radiologic technologists join fight against ‘catastrophic’ payment reductions slated for Jan. 1
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has joined the fight against significant Medicare cuts set to hit imaging and other specialties on Jan. 1.
ASRT on Monday signaled its support for House Resolution 8702, which would provide “hold harmless” payments over the next two years to offset these reimbursement reductions. The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based trade group—with more than 150,000 members, according to its latest annual report—recently sent a letter to two key congressional committees, urging them to pass the legislation.
“These reimbursement cuts are catastrophic figures for the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions,” ASRT wrote to members of both Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce.
The society noted that the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act” would grant relief to “thousands” of its members. Leaders are also asking rad techs to contact lawmakers to encourage action ahead of 2021’s arrival.
“These cuts, coupled with the fact that COVID-19 has had extremely adverse effects on the medical imaging and radiation therapy community, will wreak havoc,” the group wrote in a letter to members.
Meanwhile, other big names in imaging have formed a coalition of more than 70 medical groups, imploring Congress to pass the bill. Fifty U.S. Senators this week also expressed their opposition to the specialist reimbursement cuts, meant to offset corresponding increases for primary care and other office-based providers.
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.