That’s because according to Congressional radiology leaders in a March 1 online article from Radiological Society of North America, “the latest Congressional cuts targeting imaging are “Draconian” and could limit patient access to quality imaging care not to mention stymie research.
Following are excerpts from the online article:
“In passing the 2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), the so-called “fiscal cliff” legislation, on Jan. 1, Congress bypassed a U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal to cut overall physician payment rates by 26.5 percent as dictated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula determining Medicare reimbursement rates. Congress has passed such a temporary “doc-stop” fix each year since 2003.
“While radiology specialty leaders were pleased cuts were averted and current rates frozen through 2013, they are frustrated that Congress has yet to permanently fix the SGR formula, once again leaving physicians in a state of flux. To help pay for the stop-gap measure, estimated to cost $25 billion over 10 years, Congress approved $800 million in Medicare cuts to advanced medical imaging services and $300 million in cuts to radiation oncology. Both cuts begin on January 1, 2014.
“Extending the deferral of cuts to physician reimbursement was very welcome but does not remove the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of practicing physicians in the U.S.,” said James Thrall, M.D., a nationally recognized expert in radiology and economics. “The piecemeal approach is demoralizing and paralyzes the ability to make plans.”
Patients—particularly those in rural areas—could pay the price for the string of imaging cuts that will likely drive imaging services back to hospitals from non-hospital outpatient centers, Dr. Thrall said. Future research, Dr. Thrall and other radiology leaders warn, could be another casualty of the new laws. “It is crucial that these Draconian cuts, in addition to the Medical Device Tax, not be allowed to permanently scuttle the research and development in our specialty that is critical to all major healthcare delivery,” said William T. Thorwarth Jr., M.D., a nationally recognized expert on radiology economics and reimbursement and RSNA Board Liaison for Publications and Communications.
The Medical Device Tax, which went into effect Jan. 1, imposes on all medical devices a 2.3 percent tax—a cost that could trickle down to radiologists. The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) condemned the tax, saying it could hinder the development of medical imaging technologies, and ultimately obstruct research.”
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