S 1544 — Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2019

Summary

Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2019 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of services that are furnished by a certified radiologist assistant under the supervision of a radiologist. Payment must be made to the supervising radiologist.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html May 20, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands Medicare coverage to include payment for services provided by radiologist assistants.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(K)

  the services of a private-duty nurse or other private-duty attendant. → radiologist assistant services (as defined in subsection (kkk)(1));

  The bill adds radiologist assistant services to the list of covered services under Medicare.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395x

  Radiologist Assistant Services; Radiologist Assistant (kkk)(1) The term `radiologist assistant services' means services-- (A) performed by a radiologist assistant (as defined in paragraph (2)) under the supervision of a radiologist as an employee, leased employee, or independent contractor of the supervising radiologist; and (B) which the radiologist assistant is legally authorized to perform under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law). (2) The term `radiologist assistant' means a radiographer who is certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a registered radiologist assistant or by the Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants as a radiology practitioner assistant to perform radiologic procedures under the supervision of a radiologist.

  The bill defines radiologist assistant services and establishes the criteria for who qualifies as a radiologist assistant.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(O)

  , or radiologist assistant services

  The bill includes radiologist assistant services in the list of services eligible for payment under the physician fee schedule.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(a)

  In the case of radiologist assistant services (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(1)) furnished in a facility setting (as defined in subparagraph (B)), payment for such services furnished in such setting shall be made to the supervising radiologist in an amount determined pursuant to section 1833(a)(1)(O).

  The bill establishes specific payment rules for radiologist assistant services provided in facility settings.

• 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)

  , and (K) in the case of services described in clause (iii) of section 1861(s)(2)(K) (relating to radiologist assistant services), payment shall be made to the supervising radiologist.

  The bill specifies that payment for radiologist assistant services goes to the supervising radiologist.

Action History

1. May 20, 2019

   Introduced in Senate

2. May 20, 2019

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsors

• John Boozman · Primary

Subjects