Reps. Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) are urging the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to "re-examine the data" regarding medical imaging utilization.
The two congressmen question the validity of MedPAC's conclusion that medical imaging has been a major driver of Medicare spending growth. The letter was submitted in preparation for MedPAC's submission of its June report to Congress.
While imaging grew at a substantial rate during the early part of the last decade, likely due in large part to new technologies, the communiqué stated that the growth rate began to slow by 2005 and has since decreased dramatically.
They cited a report from the Moran Company, which found that, according to Medicare claims data, spending for advanced imaging services in 2007 declined by 19.2% (13.3% for overall imaging), compared with the previous year due to the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005. The Government Accountability Office submitted a similar report, which showed that Medicare cut reimbursement by $1.7 billion in the first year of DRA implementation.
"Since that time, total spending for imaging has remained modest with spending in 2008 growing at 2.9% and 2009 levels decreasing by 2.1%. In addition, spending per beneficiary dropped by 1.5% from 2008 to 2009," the congressmen wrote.
As MedPAC contemplates additional changes to payment levels related to imaging, they added that it is important to note the previously scheduled reductions in payment levels for imaging services have yet to be implemented.
Pitts and Pallone urged MedPAC "to re-examine the data as it relates to these services prior to finalizing any imaging recommendations and to fully consider additional scheduled payment reductions, prior to making any additional recommendations."
