ACR Presents New MRI-Monitored Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation Codes at September RUC Meeting

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) presented 14 codes for valuation at the American Medical Association (AMA)/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) meeting Sept. 27–30. These codes pertained to CT guidance for needle placement, ultrasound elastography, transcranial doppler studies and MRI-monitored transurethral ultrasound ablation of the prostate.

The value recommendations for these codes were based on multispecialty survey efforts. The ACR collaborated with societies such as the Society of Interventional Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Urological Association, American Academy of Neurology and the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound to collect the necessary data to value these codes. In addition to the time- and value-based recommendations, the ACR also collaborated with other specialties on action plans related to diagnostic bone marrow biopsy and insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter to assess whether they may be misvalued.

Lauren Nicola, MD, FACR, ACR RUC Advisor, presented the codes for the College. William Donovan, MD, MPH, served as the radiology representative on the RUC panel, with Kurt Schoppe, MD, serving as alternate. ACR member Michael Booker, MD, a member of the RUC Practice Expense Subcommittee, and ACR guest Natasha Monga, MD, also participated in the meeting.

Discussions at the RUC meeting are confidential. CMS will address the valuations for the codes presented at this meeting in the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

The College is working on RUC surveys for the January 2024 RUC meeting. Watch for emails from ACR in mid-October seeking response to these surveys and complete them promptly if you perform the procedures.

The AMA continues to promote its physician practice information survey launched in July. A second wave of random surveys is expected to launch this month. These emails may be directed toward your practice managers; encourage them to complete the survey if randomly selected. The College will provide more information as it becomes available.

If you have any questions, contact Stephanie Le, ACR Director, Economic Policy.