Industry leader rips into 'disastrous' proposed Medicare reimbursement cuts
Following the announcement of proposed cuts to Medicare reimbursements the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have received industry-wide backlash denouncing the reductions.
Among the many professional voices decrying the cuts is the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) and their Radiology Patient Action Network (RPAN). In a release shared July 13, the organization did not mince words when it came to their staunch opposition to the proposed measures.
“CMS couldn’t have picked a worse time to cut Medicare payments to physicians,” said RBMA Executive Director Bob Still. “We’re still in the midst of the pandemic, and patients who avoided regular health screenings are returning to doctors’ offices. And it’s that exact moment—when patients need us most—that Congress and the White House decide to introduce disastrous cuts. This will do incalculable damage to the medical profession, and worst of all, it will hurt the most vulnerable populations.”
If enacted, the CMS cuts would reduce radiology reimbursements by double digits in some cases. This, in combination with Congressional support set to soon expire, “is unthinkable,” says Still.
“This isn’t abstract for our physician members. They face huge patient backlogs, rising costs, and equipment shortages. And now, on top of all that, they face a massive cut from CMS and Congress. It’s simply unthinkable that policy makers would do this at a time when patients are waiting for these life-saving procedures.”
RBMA has suggested implementing an “inflation escalator” that would help providers and organizations to better estimate the investments needed to keep up with the rising costs of running practices. In the meantime, they are continuing to push for a delay in the cuts, while RPAN is readying a formal letter directed to CMS, the statement indicates.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.