ACR Preliminary Summary of Radiology Provisions in the 2017 MPFS Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule on Thursday, July 7. Upon initial review, the American College of Radiology (ACR) is pleased with several provisions within the rule. CMS has recognized the value provided by radiologists in providing mammography services through an increase in the physician work relative value units (RVUs) for diagnostic mammography and maintaining the current value for screening mammography. Additionally, ACR physicians and staff held numerous conference calls and meetings with CMS on the topic of appropriate use criteri...
Source: American College of Radiology - July 8, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
CMS Releases the Proposed Rule for the 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System
On July 1, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule with 60-day comment period for changes to the calendar year (CY) 2017 hospital outpatient prospective payment system (HOPPS). In this rule, CMS proposes site-neutral payments, further restructures the imaging ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), expands its use of comprehensive APCs (C-APCs) and proposes a new modifier for reduction in film-based X-ray services.
CMS is proposing to make site neutral payments to new off-campus sites that provide items and services to outpatients based on the Medicare Physician Fee Sched...
Source: American College of Radiology - July 7, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Responds to CMS on MACRA Proposed Rule
On Friday, June 24, the American College of Radiology (ACR) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the 2016 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive under the Physician Fee Schedule and Criteria for Physician-Focused Payment Models (PFPM) Proposed Rule.
The comment letter addresses the effect of MACRA on small and rural radiology practices as well as the following topics:
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
Identifying MIPS Eligible Clinicians
Group vs. Individual Participation
Virtual Groups
Performance Period
Targeted R...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 27, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Endorses Brief to Encourage Lung Cancer Screening
The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) issued a lung cancer screening health policy brief, which provides recommendations for radiologists and legislators on how to encourage lung cancer screening to save more lives. The position statement has been endorsed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago.
SBM supports a shared decision-making model and integration of evidence-based tobacco treatment in the context of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT)-based lung cancer screening for eligible, informed adults.
“Encourage Lung Cancer Screening in High-Risk Populatio...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 22, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
The Joint Commission Changes Requirements for CT Technologists
The Joint Commission (TJC) has recently changed its February 2016 requirements for accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care organizations that provide diagnostic imaging services after receiving significant feedback from rural and critical access hospitals.
The newest requirements, updated on June 17, 2016, no longer require that CT technologists obtain advanced-level CT certification by January 2018. Look for “Prepublication Standards – New Requirements for Diagnostic Imaging Services - Urgent Update (June 16, 2016)” on TJC’s Prepublication Standards web page. Also see ...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 21, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Appropriateness Criteria Now Satisfy Federal AUC Requirements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named the American College of Radiology (ACR) a “qualified Provider-Led Entity” (qPLE) approved to provide appropriate use criteria (AUC) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging. This means that medical providers can consult ACR Appropriateness Criteria® to fulfill impending Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) requirements that they consult AUC prior to ordering advanced diagnostic imaging for Medicare patients.
Appropriateness criteria use has been shown to improve quality, reduce unnecessary imag...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 20, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
AAPM-led Alliance for Quality Computed Tomography Provides Educational Material to Help Meet TJC CT Technologist Education Requirements
The Joint Commission’s (TJC) newest set of Diagnostic Imaging Services Requirements went into effect on July 1, 2015. These requirements apply to accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory health care organizations and require that technologists who perform diagnostic computed tomography (CT) examinations participate in ongoing education, which includes annual training on radiation dose optimization techniques and tools. Training is also required regarding safe procedures for operation of the types of CT equipment used by the technologist.
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine’...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 16, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
USPSTF Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations Are a Victory for Patients
Washington, DC — Final United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) colorectal cancer screening recommendations assigned an “A” grade to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in those ages 50-75 years and provided a list of recognized screening exams. The Affordable Care Act would now require private insurers to fully cover (with no co-pay) all of these USPSTF-recognized CRC screening exams – including CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy). Medicare should now recognize this overall “A” grade and provide full coverage for CT colonography.
“As the USPSTF agreed, the best test i...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 15, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
Multi-Society, Multi-Disciplinary Writing Group Releases CAD-RADS to Standardize Reporting of Coronary CT Angiography
Three medical professional societies today jointly released a new reporting system to standardize reporting of patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA). Termed CAD-RADSTM (Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System), this system will bring consistency to reporting of coronary CTA diagnostic information for millions of patients worldwide.
Unlike many other major disease areas, until now no standardized system has existed to classify and report patient data for CT scans of coronary artery disease. CAD-RADS fulfills that long-sought goal of the radiology, cardiology and industry com...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 15, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
Radiology Residents Receive Scholarships to Attend RLI Summit
Reston, VA — Eleven radiology residents and fellows were awarded Radiology Leadership Institute® (RLI) scholarships to attend its Summit, which will focus on how to build successful value-based performance practices. The fifth annual RLI meeting will be held Sept. 8–11 at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.
“At the RLI Summit, some of our most promising young radiologists will learn how to combine high-quality clinical care with smart organizational and strategic skills,” said Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, RLI chief medical officer. “They will learn from some of the top radiology and busine...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 14, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
Pisano to Represent Medical Imaging at Cancer Moonshot National Summit
ACR member and renowned radiology researcher Etta Pisano, MD, FACR, will represent the medical imaging community at the June 29 National Summit for the National Cancer Moon Shot Initiative in Washington. The daylong conference is intended to galvanize the Obama Administration’s push to double the pace of research toward curing cancer through the $1 billion National Cancer Moonshot initiative.
The invitation enabling the Academy of Radiology Research (ARR) to send Pisano, who serves on the Academy’s executive committee, is considered progress toward expanding the profile of imaging in the Moonshot program, hea...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 13, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Supports Participatory Medicine Initiative
Reston, VA — The American College of Radiology (ACR) continued to signal its commitment to incorporate patient involvement to ensure high-quality radiologic care by supporting the Society for Participatory Medicine (SPM).
“It’s imperative that radiologists be leaders in patient engagement since that collaboration is critical in the redesign of the nation’s health care system,” said William T. Thorwarth Jr., MD, FACR, ACR chief executive officer. By joining as an SPM bronze organization member, ACR will collaborate with patients, health professionals and caregivers, exchanging ideas on health...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 13, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Supports Senate Bill to Extend Protection of Women ’s Access to Annual Mammography
Washington & mdash; The < a href="http://www.acr.org/" > American College of Radiology < /a > supports provisions in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act ( < a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3040?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22s3040%5C%22%22%5D%7D & amp;resultIndex=1" target="_blank" > S.3040 < /a > ) that would extend until 2019 the current two-year delay in implementation of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening mammography recommendations. < br / > < br / >
The current moratorium, passed under the C...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 10, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
ACR Supports Senate Bill to Extend Protection of Women’s Access to Annual Mammography
Washington — The American College of Radiology supports provisions in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (S.3040) that would extend until 2019 the current two-year delay in implementation of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening mammography recommendations.
The current moratorium, passed under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, expires in 2017. Private insurers would then no longer be required to cover annual mammography screening without copayments for women starting at age 40. Millions of women nationwide may lose covered...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 10, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
RLI Summit: Build Radiology Practice to Maximize Value
Reston, VA—Radiologists will learn how to build a successful value-based performance practice at the Radiology Leadership Institute® (RLI) Summit. Registration is open for the fifth annual meeting to be held Sept. 8–11 at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.
“The RLI Summit is about driving the successful business of radiology while delivering high-quality patient care. Attendees will gain strategies to create value and quantify and get paid for it in everyday clinical practice,” said Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, RLI chief medical officer. “At this unique educational venue, recognized radiology ...
Source: American College of Radiology - June 7, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news
