The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) recently released a statement on MedPAC medical imaging recommendations. MITA believes that MedPAC relies on out-of-date data to reach conclusions regarding the use of life-saving advance medical imaging services. The association takes exception to MedPAC’s recommendation that CMS require prior authorization before select physicians could order advanced imaging tests and its recommendation for lower payments for successive imaging studies performed in the same session.

MITA states: “Medicare claims data shows that since 2006 payments for imaging procedures are down significantly and the utilization growth is flat. There are real-world consequences to again imposing reimbursement cuts on these procedures—new innovations don’t come to market, patients lose access to life-saving technologies and people lose their jobs as imaging equipment manufacturing is artificially slowed by short-sighted policy.”