FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robin Strongin, 703-516-7382
Ron Geigle, 703-516-7382
Washington, DC- August 3, 2006 - Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) this evening introduced the Access to Medicare Imaging Act (S. 3795), bipartisan legislation calling for a two-year moratorium on the deep Medicare payment cuts in medical imaging services that were included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). Original cosponsors of the legislation include: Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
"We applaud Senator Smith and Senator Rockefeller for taking the lead on this issue that is critical to maintaining access to life-saving medical imaging services," said Tim Trysla, Executive Director of the Access to Medical Imaging Coalition (AMIC). "Their bill," Trysla continued, "is another major step forward in addressing the imaging cuts included in DRA-'05." "It shows that members of the Senate, just like those in the House, want a much better understanding of exactly how the DRA payment reductions will affect patients and their ability to get the medical imaging services they need. Senators Smith and Rockefeller know well that this is especially critical for patients living in rural and other medically underserved areas in their own states and across the nation."
Similar to HR 5704, the Access to Medicare Imaging Act, that was introduced in June by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and more than 60 other cosponsors, S. 3795 would impose a moratorium on the DRA reductions for two years, until 2009. During that time, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would conduct a study on the effects of the cuts on patients, especially those living in rural areas.
"Maintaining access to imaging technology for Medicare beneficiaries is too important for patients and clinicians to simply allow poorly thought-out cuts to proceed forward without more understanding and analysis," said Trysla. He said that preliminary analyses found that 80% of the services potentially affected by the DRA limits will be paid at rates less than the estimated cost of performing the service in the physician office setting-thus leading to likely cutbacks and reduced availability for many services.
AMIC members are particularly concerned that the imaging reductions were included in the DRA without any debate. Neither Congress, nor MedPAC, nor any other public forum held a public hearing or meeting on the measure. AMIC members also point out that the cuts comprise roughly one-third of the total Medicare savings in the bill. Yet imaging only comprises approximately one-tenth of Medicare spending.
AMIC represents more than 75,000 physicians, providers and patients, as well as medical imaging manufacturers who employ tens of thousands of workers. See below for a list of AMIC members. To learn more about AMIC, please visit http://www.imagingaccess.org.
AMIC Members Include:
| Academy of Molecular Imaging Academy of Radiology Research Advanced Medical Technology Association Alliance for Aging Research Alzheimer's Disease International American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists American Association of Physicists in Medicine American College of Radiation Oncology American College of Radiology American Federation for Aging Research American Radiology Associates American Radiology Services American Society of Clinical Oncology 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 CSCM, Inc. Denver Integrated Imaging Denver Integrated Imaging-North | Denver Integrated Imaging-South Diagnostic MRI Diagnostic MRI--Central E+Healthcare HealthSouth DMS Imaging Institute for Molecular Technology Integral PET Lung Cancer Alliance National Coalition for Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services National Electrical Manufacturers Association National Ovarian Cancer Coalition National Patient Advocate Foundation National Stroke Association Northside Open MRI Radiology Corporation of America Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Society for Vascular Surgery Society for Vascular Ultrasound Society of Interventional Radiology Society of Nuclear Medicine Strategic Outpatient Services, Inc. Trident Molecular Imaging US Oncology Westside Open MRI |