In its August 2015 Network Bulletin, UnitedHealthcare announced a November 15, 2015, implementation date for expansion of the multiple procedure payment reduction to the professional component of advanced imaging services. Previously UnitedHealthcare announced the policy change in the Spring of 2014 "to align with Medicare policy". At that time, the ACR held a conference call with UHc leadership to inform them that the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 passed by Congress in April 2014 included a provision requiring CMS to produce data used to justify their professional component MPPR policy. CMS acknowledged the mandate in the proposed and final rules for the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and said they would be publishing the data "soon". As you likely know, CMS has yet to publish the data and they did not mention the mandate in 2016 MPFS proposed rule released last month.

 

ACR staff is again reaching out national contacts at UHc to request a conference call to discuss their announced implementation. As you likely know, the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6), passed by the House on Friday, July 10, includes provisions to permanently repeal the 25 percent professional component multiple procedure payment reduction (PC MPPR). We expect the Senate to act on this legislation by the end of this year. Our hope is that they will once again delay implementation pending Senate action.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to reach out to your local UHc contacts to express opposition to implementation of this flawed policy. Here is a link to ACR resources providing arguments against the PC MPPR reduction.

Please join radiologists, business managers and residents from around the state at the CRS Annual Meeting October 2-4, 2015 in Newport Beach, Ca. The program this year will offer a variety of talks on issues that impact diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology including;

For a complete list of speakers and topics, hotel reservations and on-line registration