Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC Today U.S. Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX) Mike Doyle (D-PA) Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 4614 the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016. This bipartisan legislation would allow for Medicare coverage of qualified radiology assistant (RA) services.
Im pleased to join my colleagues in reintroducing this common sense legislation to promote more efficient healthcare for Americas seniors save jobs and enable the Medicare program to realize cost saving" Rep. Pete Olson said. This bill also fills critical gaps in doctor shortages through the use of Radiology Assistants. This measure would improve the quality of care and ensure timely access to diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures."
Radiology Assistants play an important role in American health care today" Congressman Doyle observed. Our bill simply recognizes that fact by allowing Medicare coverage for their services. This bipartisan bill would improve patient access to care and ensure that radiologists and radiology assistants working together can maximize their training to provide high-quality cost-effective medical imaging for Medicare beneficiaries."
Radiologist Assistants are highly trained and skilled professionals who have mastered complex technologies and understand how to best serve their patients in a safe and effective manner" said Rep. Dave Reichert. With the growing issue of doctor shortages making certain that their services are covered by Medicare is merely common-sense and passage of this legislation would play an essential role in improving and increasing seniors access to critical radiology services."
Bolstering the U.S.s health care workforce has long been a priority of mine which is why I am proud to reintroduce this bill" Rep. Bill Pascrell said. The Rutgers School of Health Related Professions in New Jersey has one of the few radiologist assistant programs in the country producing highly qualified health professionals every year. Ensuring that Medicare pays radiologist assistants for the services they provide solidifies their role as an integral part of the radiology team."
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016 would explicitly recognize radiology assistants (RAs) as a non-physician Medicare provider and allows Medicare coverage for their services. State law would continue to govern the scope of practice and supervision requirements for RAs and supervising radiologists would continue to bill and receive payment for RA-performed services.
