American College of Radiology (ACR)

The American College of Radiology represents diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists. The society represents more than 41,000 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists. ACR helps members, through advocacy, quality and safety, and innovation, and serves as the voice of radiology, demonstrating value and setting standards to advance the field and practice.

Elizabeth Ann Ignacio, MD, FSIR, FACR, the chair of Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Small and Rural Practices Committee, president of the Hawaii Medical Association, and a board member of the American College of Radiology, outlines the shortage of IRs outside of major cities and ways to make these positions more attractive.

How to address the shortage of interventional radiologists

Elizabeth Ann Ignacio, MD, FSIR, FACR, chair of SIR Small and Rural Practices Committee, and an ACR board member, outlines ways to make these positions outside of major cities more attractive.

Dana Smetherman, MD, ACR CEO, explains AUC may be better than prior authorizations.

ACR CEO discusses solution to fight burdensome prior authorizations in medical imaging

Dana Smetherman, MD, MBA, outlines a possible remedy for the growing number of these roadblocks in the specialty. 

Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR, the new CEO of the American College of Radiology (ACR), explains with the ongoing 2024 election, it is very unlikely there will be any serious reform to the Medicare payment system this year. She said further Medicare cuts set for 2025 also further threaten patient access to care.

Meaningful Medicare reform unlikely in 2024

New American College of Radiology CEO Dana Smetherman, MD, discusses the impact of reimbursement cuts, issues with staffing costs and prior authorization. 

AMA chart showing Medicare update payments compared to the cost of practice inflation between 2001-2024. The ongoing AMA PPI survey will be used top recalculate radiology practice expenses, but only 10 practices so far has submitted data that will impact all radiology practices.

Only 10 radiology practices completed survey used to adjust Medicare payments

The ACR shared its concerns about the lack of participation as the deadline approaches. 

Richard Heller, MD, RSNA Board member, associate chief medical officer for health policy and communications, and national director of pediatric radiology at Radiology Partners, explains some insurance companies are trying to take advantage of the No Surprises Billing Act by telling radiology practices they need to accept lower rates to remain part of the providers in-network.

Radiologists urged to report insurance companies forcing lower reimbursements due to No Surprises Act

Some payers are taking advantage of the NSA by forcing practices to accept lower rates to remain in-network, says Rad Partners' Richard Heller, MD. 

Telemammography

4 key trends in breast imaging

These trends include growth in 3D mammography, supplemental imaging for women with dense breasts and in the role of artificial intelligence.

Interview with Stamatia Destounis, MD, FACR, a radiologist and managing partner at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester, New York, chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Commission, serves on the Public Information Advisors Committee for Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and on the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) Communication Committee. She discusses post-COVID economic issues facing breast imaging centers, including the "great resignation" and lower reimbursements.

VIDEO: Issues with the great resignation and lower reimbursements in breast imaging

Stamatia Destounis, MD, FACR, a radiologist and managing partner at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester, New York, and chair of the ACR Breast Commission, discusses post-COVID-19 economic issues facing breast imaging centers, including staffing problems from the "Great Resignation" and lower reimbursements. 

AMA analysis of Medicare Trustee data shows Medicare updates compared to inflation 2001-2021.

More than 100 medical societies push Congress to end destructive cycle of annual Medicare cuts

More than 120 medical societies have joined the AMA in a letter urging congressional leaders to enact long-term solutions to the systemic problems in the Medicare physician payment system and to address cuts that are going into effect in 2023.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.