Three committees in the U.S. House of Representatives have formally introduced healthcare reform legislation that would increase the equipment utilization rate for advanced diagnostic imaging services such as MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, and PET from its current 50% rate to 75%.
The so-called Tri-Committee bill, now titled "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009," includes a variety of provisions for reforming the nation's healthcare system. In addition to the utilization rate, the sections that affect imaging include an adjustment in the technical component discount on single-session imaging of contiguous body parts, increasing the reduction from the current 25% to 50%.
The House is expected to pass the bill before the August 1 congressional recess. If made into law, the bill's provisions would go into effect on January 1, 2011.
Related Reading
U.S. House bill would increase utilization factor to 75%, June 23, 2009
RBMA: Equipment use rates far lower than President estimates, June 19, 2009
Imaging groups lobby against MedPAC call for more payment cuts, March 26, 2009
AMIC criticizes MedPAC report, February 26, 2009
Medical imaging hopes to cut losses in Medicare reform debate, January 27, 2009
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