States may be a better bet for radiology advocacy than Washington
Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) board member Kit Crancer offers an update on Medicare reform, advocacy in Washington, D.C., and how medical societies may be able to get more traction with state lawmakers in the current political climate.
Crancer works with the Radiology Patient Action Network (RPAN), a network of radiology groups advocating for better patient care and funding for radiology services. Their primary focus is convincing Congress to enact long-term Medicare payment reform. However, Crancer said there are continuing roadblocks due to the politics in Washington, and there is growing concern that cuts to the federal budget may delay physician fee schedule reform.
RPAN also is tracking state legislation impacting imaging and advocating for beneficial changes. Crancer said this is where there is opportunity to make a mark, because most states are mired in political deadlock on healthcare issues.
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.