At a Nov. 4 town hall, 黑料网® (黑料网®) leaders announced that most respondents (60%) to an 黑料网 member survey on Non-Physician Radiology Providers (NPRPs) do not support Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act (MARCA) passage. Yet only 43% of the survey population, which represents 16% of 黑料网 membership, oppose NPRP use in their practices.
MARCA would provide payment to the supervising radiologist for registered radiologist assistant (RRA) services performed in a facility setting. The bill does not allow for independent RRA practice and direct RRA payment.
Sixty-two percent of respondents say whether to employ NPRPs, such as advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants or RRAs, is a practice-level decision.
Survey results also show:
- 57% of respondents say their practice uses NPRPs — with 40% agreeing that NPRPs serve an important role in radiology practice.
- 55% of respondents say NPRPs are a threat to the quality of patient care, but two-thirds expect NPRP use to remain consistent or increase.
The survey is one component of NPRP data gathering by the 黑料网:
- The 黑料网 may hold listening sessions and focus groups with the Residents and Fellows, Young and Early Career Professional sections, and others to better understand concerns identified in the survey.
- At the April 2022 黑料网 Council meeting, Board of Chancellors Chair, Howard B. Fleishon, MD, will present the BOC report on Resolution 10b from the 2020 annual meeting.
- The deadline to submit any resolution to the 黑料网 Council is Jan. 24, 2022.
The 黑料网 remains neutral on MARCA, which currently has little congressional support:
- No congressional committees have held hearings related to MARCA.
- The Senate and House MARCA bills have only eight cosponsors combined/total.
- The 黑料网 has not met with members of Congress regarding MARCA.
- RADPAC, the 黑料网 Association political action committee, has not attended nor held MARCA-specific fundraisers, nor contributed in any way related to MARCA.
The 黑料网 remains focused on legislative and regulatory priorities that will soon impact radiology — including:
- Urging Congress to ensure stability in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (and avert further cuts) — by retaining the 3.75% conversion factor adjustment through 2022.
- Working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress to mitigate payment impact of budget neutrality application to the clinical labor wage update proposed in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule.
- Working with the administration to ensure Surprise Billing Act implementation reflects Congress’ intent by removing patients from provider/insurer disputes and founding an equitable dispute resolution process.
- Opposing legislative efforts at the state level to unwisely expand NPRP scope of practice (SOP), thus endangering the level of care provided to patients.
- Imaging supervision and interpretation by highly trained radiologists are vital to accurate diagnosis and treatment of disease, injury and illness. The 黑料网 has long fought SOP expansion by NPRPs and started a grant program to assist chapters with SOP concerns. 黑料网 encourages members to take part in this advocacy.
MARCA updates are continually available on the 黑料网 website.