Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) has introduced legislation that would require physicians to disclose any financial interest in imaging services provided through the in-office ancillary exception.
The Medicare Imaging Disclosure Sunshine Act of 2008 (S. 3343) also would provide patients with a list of alternative imaging providers in the area. If enacted, the legislation would go into effect in 2010.
In a statement on the Senate floor, Grassley said that while the recently enacted Medicare bill requires accreditation for the technical component of advanced imaging services, the legislation "regrettably fails to address an issue that has contributed significantly to the rapid growth in Medicare spending for imaging services: physician self-referrals for imaging services in their offices and in facilities where they own or lease advanced imaging equipment."
Grassley's proposal already has the support of the American College of Radiology (ACR) of Reston, VA.
Related Reading
CMS and physician self-referral: More bark than bite? April 14, 2008
New CMS rules alter practices in independent imaging centers, April 8, 2008
CMS delays in-office self-referral decision with new MPFS rule, November 7, 2007
CMS publishes 2008 physician payment rule, November 4, 2007
New CMS rules could add to radiology's reimbursement woes, August 1, 2007
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