A U.S. House representative recently introduced a bill that would require the disclosure of physicians’ financial interest in certain imaging services, according to the American College of Radiology.

The ACR reported that Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., introduced the Medicare Imaging Disclosure Sunshine Act of 2008 into the House on Aug. 1. It serves as a companion bill to legislation that Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced last month into the Senate.

Seeking to ban self-referral, the bills would amend the Stark law to mandate that physicians disclose financial interests in certain imaging services provided through the in-office ancillary exception. Physicians would also be responsible for providing patients with a list of alternative imaging providers in the area.

This requirement would become effective in 2010.

McCarthy is also the original cosponsor of the Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007, which calls for a two-year moratorium on the imaging cuts in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.