The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA)—the trade association representing manufacturers of medical imaging equipment, radiopharmaceuticals, contrast media, and focused ultrasound therapeutic devices—has joined with a coalition of medical imaging providers and manufacturers in sending a letter to congressional leadership expressing support for the Supporting Medicare Providers Act (H.R. 8800) and urged Congress to pass this legislation to provide necessary relief and ensure stability for the health care delivery system before the year’s end.
“The Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 one-year delay of 4.42% of proposed cuts would help facilitate needed stability for healthcare professionals who are still recovering from the financial hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the coalition wrote.
“We need Congress to act to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to address the fragile quality and payment system that continues to ask providers to do more with less,” says Patrick Hope, executive director of MITA. “H.R. 8800 is a good first step to address this problem, and the broader medical imaging community stands ready to help policymakers navigate a long-term, dependable, and sustainable solution to ensuring access to care.”
“We’re extremely grateful for the long-standing leadership of Representatives Bera, MD, and Bucshon, MD, as they seek to avert imminent, significant cuts to providers,” says Christopher Crancer, senior vice president of radiologist partnerships and policy of RAYUS Radiology. “We also applaud their commitment to necessary and long-term Medicare payment reforms. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that the chronic cycle of cuts end to preserve patient access to care.”
“The potential cuts this bill looks to mitigate would devastate the ability for our nation’s Medicare recipients to access vital screening and diagnostic services,” says Bob Still, executive director of the Radiology Business Management Association. The cuts are particularly concerning when it’s considered that Medicaid rates are often also based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. These reductions would only serve to broaden health inequity in America.”
“Access to medical imaging is directly linked to greater life expectancy, declining mortality rates as well as reductions in unnecessary hospital admissions and the length of hospital stays,” adds Jacqueline A. Bello, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors. “Congress must act to provide sustainable Medicare reimbursement that ensures all Americans have ready access to these lifesaving and life improving services.”
In addition to MITA, the coalition of providers and manufacturers included the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), the Association for Quality Imaging, Northwest Radiology, Rayus Radiology Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonograph, Shields Healthcare, the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging.
The full letter can be read here.
