Medicare In Brief
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
CMS seeks proposals for imaging demo: The agency is taking applications through Sept. 21 from groups who want to participate in its two-year Medicare Imaging Demonstration to test whether decision-support systems can improve quality of care and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. The project will study the use of clinical guidelines to judge the appropriateness of 11 advanced imaging procedures involving magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and nuclear medicine imaging. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 prohibits the use of prior authorization in the demonstration (1"The Gray Sheet" Jan. 4, 2010). CMS wants 2,500 to 3,500 physicians from 500 to 650 physician practices - varied by size, specialty mix and location - to participate. The agency will use participating conveners, such as physician groups, health plans, radiology benefit managers or medical specialty societies, to help recruit physicians for the test