Radiology Assistants May Bill Medicare in the Near Future
October 7, 2011 – A bill letting facilities and radiology groups bill Medicare for imaging services performed by certified radiology assistants is currently in Congress. The “Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2011″ would amend the Social Security Act to recognize radiologist assistants as non-physician providers of healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries as well as reimburse RAs for procedures performed by RAs in states with laws establishing radiologist-assistant guidelines.
It is believed that with radiologist oversight, RAs are qualified to perform many aspects of imaging, patient assessment, management and procedures that will allow radiologists the time to perform procedures and consultations that can be performed only by a radiologist.
Medicare would pay 85 percent of the physician fee schedule rate of the professional component of procedures performed by the RAs. Many believe that should result in savings to the healthcare system and Medicare.
Currently Medicare reimburses facilities using RAs through the doctor’s practice expenses as long radiologists personally supervise (physically present) all covered procedures. The new bill would change the supervision level from personal to direct, meaning the radiologist would have to be near and immediately available if needed.
To be eligible for reimbursement, RAs would have to be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Currently, 29 states license RAs.
This bill is supported by ARRT, the ACR, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the Society of Radiology Physician Extenders.
Tags: CMS Updates
