The medical imaging community was stunned Monday when Congress adjourned for the year before making adjustments to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. DRA provisions that cut Medicare reimbursement for outpatient imaging procedures will take effect as mandated on Jan. 1.
Congress failed to act on two bills that would have delayed the DRA's technical component cuts for outpatient imaging services for at least two years, pending a federal study into the impact of the cuts on access to care.
American College of Radiology leadership is debating whether to pursue a delay or appeal of the reductions with the Democrat-controlled 110th Congress when it convenes in January.