The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) applauded the December 11 reintroduction to the U.S. Congress of the bipartisan Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2024 (MARCA).
Last introduced in June 2021 as HR-3657 and companion SB-2641, MARCA would amend Medicare reimbursement policy for radiologist assistants (RAs) to align reimbursement with state radiologist assistant licensure laws. Proposed as S-5492, the bill is currently sponsored by Sens. John Boozman (R-AR) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).
The ARRT said that the passage of MARCA will enable radiologists to devote more focused time to performing complex procedures and reviewing and interpreting medical imaging examinations, thus increasing Medicare patients’ access to care.
“With demand for quality and timely radiology services continuing to rise, MARCA will remove federal barriers to enable radiologists to fully utilize the radiologist assistant as an advanced practice provider specifically trained to assist on diagnostic and therapeutic radiology procedures,” said ARRT CEO Liana Watson. “This monumental legislation will ensure that all services provided by a radiologist assistant, supervised by a radiologist as part of a radiologist-led team, receive Medicare reimbursement, regardless of the setting in which the radiology service is provided.”
S-5492 seeks to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for services of radiologist assistants under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.