Radiologists could submit claims to Medicare for nonimaging services performed by radiologist assistants (RAs) in hospital and office settings under legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA). The bill is known as the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (HR 1970).
The proposed legislation follows recent rule revisions by Medicare to allow RAs to perform services under direct supervision of a radiologist. While a radiologist does not have to be in the room where the exam takes place, a radiologist must be in the facility and immediately available to render assistance, if necessary.
The legislation addresses the fact that radiology practices cannot submit claims to Medicare for services performed by RAs in hospitals and office settings. Under the bipartisan proposal, Medicare would recognize RAs and radiologist practitioner assistants as midlevel providers of healthcare services working under the supervision of a radiologist.
The bill has the support of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and more than 100 national state and local organizations and companies, including the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American College of Radiology, and the Society of Radiology Physician Extenders.
