The Access to Medical Imaging Coalition (AMIC) is touting survey results that indicate that 71% of voters oppose making additional cuts in Medicare reimbursement for advanced imaging procedures such as MRI and CT.
The Washington, DC-based advocacy group said that the survey was conducted September 4-8 by polling firm Zogby Interactive and it queried opinions of 4,426 likely voters. Some 78% of respondents said that cuts in medical imaging services as proposed by Congress will significantly affect physicians' ability to detect diseases.
In addition, 66% said that President Barack Obama should urge Congress to reject these additional medical imaging cuts when he addresses lawmakers in a speech scheduled for September 9, according to AMIC.
AMIC said it opposes legislation backed by the Senate Finance Committee and the Obama administration that would increase the utilization rate assumption for advanced imaging equipment from 50% to 90%, as well as reduce payments for single-session imaging on contiguous body parts by 25%. It also opposes legislation in the House of Representatives that would change the utilization rate to 75%.
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