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MITA voices opposition to deep healthcare cuts included in the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule for CY 2021

Press releases may be edited for formatting or style | December 02, 2020
Washington, D.C. – The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), the leading organization and collective voice of medical imaging and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, innovators and product developers, today voiced strong opposition to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to implement ruinous specialty provider payment cuts included in the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule for CY 2021.

"We are deeply concerned that this decision will severely undermine patient access to essential healthcare services in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency," said Patrick Hope, Executive Director of MITA. "The Fall 2020 surge in coronavirus hospitalizations underscores the stark reality that this pandemic is far from over. By proceeding with these steep payment cuts, the PFS Final Rule will only serve to devastate the financial viability of healthcare practices and further disrupt America's already beleaguered healthcare system. "

The PFS final rule establishes a new reimbursement structure to increase the valuation of evaluation and management (E/M) services. Unfortunately, the rule will lead to staggering cuts for specialties that do not frequently bill E/M visits, including radiologists, oncologists, cardiologists, and physical and occupational therapists.

In early October, MITA joined a coalition of leading diagnostic and medical imaging groups in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging them to delay payment cuts to specialty providers by waiving budget neutrality for reimbursement changes included in the (PFS) Rule for CY 2021. Signatories included the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), the Association for Quality Imaging, the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), the Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI), the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), Shields Healthcare Group, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS).

"The medical imaging community has made its position clear. If CMS is unable to reduce or mitigate these harmful cuts, then Congress must swiftly intervene with an appropriate legislative remedy," added Hope. "We simply cannot afford to undermine healthcare providers in the middle of a public health emergency. Congress must act– and quickly."


The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of NEMA, is the collective voice of medical imaging equipment manufacturers, innovators, and product developers. It represents companies whose sales comprise more than 90 percent of the global market for advanced medical imaging technology. For more information, visit www.medicalimaging.org. Follow MITA on Twitter @MITAToday.­­­­­

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