The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed the American College of Radiology (ACR) that "operational limitations" will prevent it from applying the imaging professional component multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) to group practices beginning on January 1.
As a result, CMS will not apply the professional MPPR for imaging services performed by separate physicians in the same group practice for 2012. The decision will affect both office and hospital practices, according to ACR.
ACR credited its "intensive educational efforts" for the CMS decision.
However, the 25% MPPR to the professional component of diagnostic imaging services performed by the same physician to the same patient during the same session remains the same. The ACR said it will continue its legislative efforts to block the entire professional component MPPR through enactment of HR 3269 in the second session of the 112th Congress.
