Drastically reduced reimbursement for PET imaging next year could severely hamper the modality's growth in the U.S., according to the Reston, VA-based Society of Nuclear Medicine.
On August 24, the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, formerly HCFA) published its proposed ambulatory patient classification (APC) reimbursement rates for 2002. FDG-PET is currently reimbursed at $2,331.18. The proposed rate is $841.94. Both of these rates include the cost of FDG. The cost for FDG varies, but the published average wholesale price is $750, according to the SNM.
The Nuclear Medicine APC task force, comprised of eight organizations representing the nuclear medicine community, said the proposed rate could severely hamper the availability of PET despite the modality's recent successes in cancer, cardiac, and neurological applications, the SNM said.
The SNM called the proposed reductions "draconian," and encouraged interested parties to leave comments on its Web site for transmission to the CMS before the agency's October 3 deadline.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
September 26, 2001
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Joint ventures can help radiology groups survive APCs, July 18, 2001
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