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Update on CMS Law Intended to Cut Medicare Payments for Older X-ray Technologies

by Andy Beer on Aug 22, 2016

Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the 2017 proposed rules for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). They included a draft rule on the reimbursement cuts that will affect older X-ray technologies—though there wasn’t a significant update.twin_robotic_xray_scanner_multitom_rax_patient_focus-1-0245990810.jpg

As you may recall, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 in late December 2015, which included new Medicare and Medicaid provisions affecting the use of film screen and computed radiography (CR) imaging.

The recently released proposed rules were for film only. We will have to wait until this November for proposed rules relative to CR. 

Here are the proposed rules regarding payment modifications for film X-ray:                       

  • Effective for services furnished during 2017 or any subsequent year, payment under HOPPS for X-ray imaging services using film will be reduced by 20 percent. 
  • Effective for services furnished on or after Jan. 1, 2017, CMS is proposing that hospitals be required to use a claims modifier to indicate use of film X-rays.
  • CMS will address computed radiography imaging services in future rulemaking.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 indicated that starting in 2018, payment for X-rays performed using computed radiography will be reduced by 7 percent during 2018 through 2022, with a 10 percent reduction applicable beginning in 2023.

These draft rules are open for comment—with the final rules set to be published in late November. Siemens will be providing comments on these rules through the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), which is part of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

Let us know what questions you have about the draft rules in the comments below, or contact your Cassling account executive.

To learn more about this law, download our trend report: “Transition to Digital X-ray Fueled by Declining Medicare Reimbursement."

Meet the Author

Andy Beer is the executive vice president at Cassling. He received his business administration degree at Iowa State University and completed the Alternative MBA course at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business. Andy is a veteran of the diagnostic and medical imaging industry. He spent 12 years at Siemens Medical Solutions where he gained direct sales and management experience before joining Cassling in 2002. While at Siemens, Andy received a number of company awards and honors, including the Circle of Excellence Award and the Masters Award. He stays involved in the community by donating time to his church and coaching youth basketball.

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