FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robin Strongin, Polidais, 703-516-7382
Ron Geigle, Polidais, 703-516-7384
ROSSLYN, VA - March 1, 2006 - A letter signed by some 30 medical groups, technology associations, health care providers, and patient advocates today asked Congress to re-consider the deep cuts it made in medical imaging services for Medicare beneficiaries in the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005.
In a letter to House and Senate leaders, the group said, "We are particularly concerned that these cuts were included without any public deliberation by either body of the Congress. There has been no analysis of the potential impact of this change in payment policy, and we fear that these cuts will have numerous unintended consequences, including potentially diminishing access to imaging services outside the hospital setting."
The groups that signed the letter represent more than 75,000 physicians, in addition to major organizations that employ tens of thousands of individuals. The groups that signed the letter are listed below; the full letter is attached. The letters were sent to the House Speaker and the Majority and Minority Leaders in both the House and Senate, with copies to key committees.
| Academy of Radiology Research Academy of Molecular Imaging Advanced Medical Technology Association Alliance for Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease International American College of Radiation Oncology American College of Radiology American Federation for Aging Research American Radiology Associates American Radiology Services American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Association for Freestanding Radiation Oncology Centers Cardiology Advocacy Alliance Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research Colon Cancer Alliance DMS Imaging | E + Healthcare Institute for Molecular Technology Integral PET Lung Cancer Alliance National Coalition for Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services (NCQDIS) National Electrical Manufacturers Association National Ovarian Cancer Coalition National Stroke Association Radiology Corporation of America Society for Vascular Surgery Society of Interventional Radiology Society of Nuclear Medicine Strategic Outpatient Services, Inc. Trident Molecular Imaging U.S. Oncology |
Letter to Congress that was sent to House Speaker, Minority and Majority Leaders in House and Senate; Copies were sent to Key Committees
March 1, 2006
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
H-232 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515-6501
Dear Speaker Hastert:
The undersigned organizations are writing to request that Congress reconsider Section 5102 of the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005 (DRA). Collectively, we represent over 75,000 physicians and numerous major organizations who employ tens of thousands of citizens. We are united in our opposition to the language in Section 5102 of the DRA.
Section 5102, entitled "Adjustments in Payment for Imaging Services," would significantly cut Medicare reimbursement for the provision of diagnostic and interventional imaging services. These life-saving diagnostic services are performed by a wide array of physician specialties in their offices and in free-standing imaging centers. This provision singles out imaging services to absorb over one-third of all the Medicare payment reductions in the DRA.
We are particularly concerned that these cuts were included without any public deliberation by either body of the Congress. There has been no analysis of the potential impact of this change in payment policy, and we fear that these cuts will have numerous unintended consequences, including potentially diminishing access to imaging services outside the hospital setting.
We ask that you work with us and the committees of jurisdiction on this issue to fix this new provision in the law prior to its implementation in January 2007. We look forward to working with you to find a solution to this problem.
If you or your staff have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Robert Britain, NEMA at 703-841-3241, or by email to .
Sincerely,
Academy of Radiology Research
Academy of Molecular Imaging
Advanced Medical Technology Association
Alliance for Aging Research
Alzheimer's Disease International
American College of Radiation Oncology
American College of Radiology
American Federation for Aging Research
American Radiology Associates
American Radiology Services
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
Association for Freestanding Radiation Oncology Centers
Cardiology Advocacy Alliance
Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research
Colon Cancer Alliance
DMS Imaging
E + Healthcare
Institute for Molecular Technology
Integral PET
Lung Cancer Alliance
National Coalition for Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services (NCQDIS)
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
National Stroke Association
Radiology Corporation of America
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society of Interventional Radiology
Society of Nuclear Medicine
Strategic Outpatient Services, Inc.
Trident Molecular Imaging
U.S. Oncology
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association is the largest association representing manufacturers of medical imaging equipment in the world. See www.nema.org.