The American College of Radiology (ACR) is voicing its opposition to a proposal by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a 50% multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) to the professional component of CT, MRI, and ultrasound services given to the same patient on the same day in the same setting.
In an August 30 letter to CMS, ACR CEO Dr. Harvey Neiman wrote that the CMS position is "scientifically unfounded" and is based on "flawed assumptions and may limit patients' ability to receive efficient care."
To support its stance, ACR cited a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (Allen et al, Vol. 8:9, pp. 610-616). The study concluded such same-day imaging exams are highly variable and comprise only 10% of scans cited by policymakers, the organization said.
The ACR is urging CMS to reconsider additional bundling of payments for many imaging procedures commonly performed in parallel.
