The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) will hold its first virtual Capitol Hill Day Wednesday, May 19, as part of the 2021 Annual Meeting. About 350 attendees are scheduled to meet with their members of Congress during the virtual event.
ACR leadership and the Government Relations Commission have identified the following issues for participants to discuss during their congressional visits:
- Mitigation of impending 2022 Medicare evaluation and management pay cuts — After thanking representatives and senators for reducing significant reimbursement cuts to the Medicare Fee Schedule for 2021, ACR members will urge lawmakers to provide additional financial stability in 2022 to ensure physician and non-physician providers can maintain seniors’ access to care.
- Technical corrections to the imaging section of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014 — The ACR proposes technical corrections to PAMA to avoid continued Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) delays associated with implementation of mandatory consultation of advanced imaging appropriate utilization criteria (AUC) by ordering physicians. The ACR believes certain CMS real time claims processes may be unnecessarily cumbersome for ordering providers and is advocating for the removal of these barriers through technical improvements.
- Co-sponsorship of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S.610/H.R. 1667) — Through the establishment of various grants and awareness programs, passage of this legislation would ensure clinicians are able to seek mental health treatment and services without fear of professional setback.
If you have questions about these issues, contact the ACR Government Relations Department at govrelations@acr.org.
Registration to participate in the Virtual Hill Day now is closed. If you plan to participate and have questions about the appointment-making process, please contact Ted Burnes.