In a news release, ACR says this and another fee increase often exceed disputed reimbursement amounts, effectively thwarting many providers—and potentially all radiologists—from participating in the IDR process.
The steps laid out in the Jan. 19 letter “can ensure patients continue to have access to lifesaving care from the providers of their choice as they are protected from surprise medical bills,” Thorwarth says. “Providers, insurers, regulators, lawmakers and other stakeholders must work together to ensure that these ACR-proposed positive solutions are implemented.”
ACR adds:
If not corrected, the issues raised in the ACR letter only add to growing insurer overreach that threatens access to care. To increase profit margins without lowering beneficiary premiums, health insurers are using the NSA to narrow medical networks, which may force many patients to travel farther and wait longer to access care.”
Thorwarth underscores that, for the IDR process to work as the No Surprises Act intended, it must be “accessible, fair and efficient.”
The proposed ACR solutions “strengthen efforts to achieve those goals while safeguarding patients from surprise costs and preserving access to care,” Thorwarth adds. “We strongly urge CCIIO to work with ACR and other provider groups to implement these steps forward.”
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