Society of Interventional Radiology announces support for bill that would cut $700M in Medicare costs
The Society of Interventional Radiology is announcing its support for proposed legislation that has divided some physician specialties.
SIR on May 28 announced it supports the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission, or ROOT, Act, joining the American College of Radiology. Introduced last year in both the House and Senate (S. 1692/ H.R. 5737), the bill would require physicians ordering advance diagnostic imaging to first consult appropriate-use criteria.
Interventional radiologists’ support comes after the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology recently urged other docs to oppose the legislation. ASNC in May expressed concern that Medicare would utilize appropriate-use criteria for heart imaging that is not developed by cardiovascular medical societies—“the gold standard for determining the most appropriate” imaging.
SIR noted that the legislation will help to reduce the ordering of low-value advanced diagnostic imaging. In voicing its support, it cited estimates that the program could help save Medicare up to $700 million annually by cutting back on wasteful and unnecessary scans. SIR said it hopes these savings could potentially be used to help offset the cost of long-term physician payment reform in the Medicare program.
“The AUC program is an effective, evidence-based program founded on physician-developed guidelines that optimize patient care by guiding providers on appropriate ordering of [advanced diagnostic imaging services],” the Society of Interventional Radiology said in a statement, noting the legislation will lead to “fewer unnecessary studies and savings to both the patient and the healthcare delivery system.”
SIR also emphasized that physicians would not need to consult appropriate-use criteria for clinical trials, or if they work in small or rural practices. Imaging services for screening also are exempt, the society added.
The announcement comes after ACR CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MBA, MPH, testified before Congress on May 20, urging lawmakers to pass the ROOT Act. She noted that the legislation is projected to generate $2 billion in savings over 10 years for the Medicare program, along with another $1.5 billion saved by beneficiaries, ACR said in a May 28 news update.
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.