Federal legislation that would establish Medicare recognition of radiologist assistants (RAs) as nonphysician healthcare services providers has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
HR 1148, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2013, was introduced to Congress on March 14 by U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert (R-WA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Pete Olson (R-TX), and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ).
The bill would amend the Social Security Act to recognize radiologist assistants as nonphysician providers of healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries. It would also authorize physician reimbursement through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for procedures performed by RAs in states that have laws establishing radiologist assistant practice guidelines.
By establishing a reduced reimbursement level for the professional component of procedures performed by RAs, the legislation would result in savings to the healthcare system, according to the bill's sponsors.
