ACR Provides Recommendations on Cures 2.0 Legislative Policies

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) provided recommendations to U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D, CO-1) and Larry Bucshon, MD, (R, IN-8) regarding Cures 2.0 legislative policy topics. ACR provided comments in response to a June 6 request for information (RFI) related to the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 and subsequent Cures 2.0 (2019) discussions.

The Cures Act, a broadly scoped legislative package, addressed topics related to software and artificial intelligence (AI) oversight, data sharing, biomedical research funding and payment policy. Congress began to examine Cures Act-related gaps and opportunities in 2019. While certain Cures 2.0 policy concepts advanced through other means, such as the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), most of the momentum was lost in 2020 due to needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACR recommended Congress explore expanding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over AI-enabled software; creation of new payment incentives for quality medical uses of high-value AI; implementation of a national strategy for electronic image exchanges, Medicare Local Coverage Determination (LCD) process improvements; support for ARPA-H distinct from other National Institutes of Health (NIH) programs; dedicated federal funding for translational research; and support for the sharing of research data.

ACR members with questions about Cures 2.0 can contact Michael Peters, ACR Senior Director, Government Relations, or Katie Grady, ACR Government Affairs Director.