03/14/2016    

MEDICARE NEWS

Medicare X-Ray Reimbursement Cuts on the Horizon

 

In December 2015, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. Included in the 2000-page document is a special rule for diagnostic radiology that incentivizes imaging providers to adopt more advanced x-ray technology by cutting reimbursement to older technology beginning in 2017.

 

Medicare Reimbursement Cuts to X-ray by Technology

 

Beginning in 2017, claims submitted for x-rays performed on analog equipment will receive a 20% reduction in payment. As most organizations replaced analog equipment, this will likely impact a relatively small number of providers. But while few providers still use analog x-rays, some organizations replaced these units with computed radiography (CR), defined as cassette-based imaging, before digital radiography was widely available. Beginning in 2018, claims for x-rays performed using CR technology will be reduced by 7%. The cuts will increase to 10% beginning in 2023.

 

Source: Erin Lane, The Advisory Board Company [1/22/16]