Diagnostic Imaging Industry Reponds To MedPAC Recommendations
The imaging lobby is "pushing back" on recommendations that would require doctors to get prior authorization before referring patients for some imaging scans.
Politico Pro: Diagnostic Imaging Industry Pushing Back
The imaging lobby is crying "uncle" when it comes to further cuts to diagnostic imaging services. The industry is pushing back against recommendations issued by a government advisory panel last week that would cut Medicare reimbursement for doctors who refer patients to have diagnostic scans on equipment they own themselves. Congress would have to approve the recommendations for them to go into effect. Another recommendation made by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission asks Congress to require that CMS install "prior authorization" for certain doctors who order lots of scans. ... A coalition of imaging groups ... has countered with a proposal to implement "clinical decision support tools" that it says reduce costs and increase efficiency (Coughlin, 4/12).
CQ HealthBeat: Imaging Coalition Campaigns Against Cuts
A coalition of companies that use, make or sell electronic tools to help physicians decide when to use imaging services fought back Monday against a recommendation that some doctors be required to get prior authorization for such services as CT scans.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) agreed April 7 to recommend that Congress direct the Health and Human Services secretary to require doctors to get prior approval from Medicare officials for imaging if they have ordered "substantially" more advanced services, such as magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans, than other physicians. The idea is to deter physicians from continuing to routinely order more imaging scans than normal (Adams, 4/11).