Advocates have said these changes would necessitate “massive” pay reductions, with interventional radiologists and radiation oncologists bearing the brunt. 

The measure to extend funding through Feb. 18 does not include any of the changes championed by physicians. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is allegedly using "strong arm tactics," forcing physicians to swallow cuts as high as 30%, emboldened by the controversial federal policy. 

"Be the squeaky wheel. This issue was taken care of because physicians stood up,” Rad Partners' Richard Heller, MD, told RSNA attendees. 

A urology resident requested CT surveillance of one patient's abdomen and pelvis within 90 days, but it ended up taking nearly twice as long. 

Radiologists and other physicians have slammed one key piece of the rule, believing it will tip the scales in favor of payers. 

Reps. Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif., and Larry Bucshon, MD, R-Ind., recently introduced the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2021, drawing praise from several doc groups. 

“Specialty providers are facing cut after cut after cut, year after year after year, while CMS is busy counting pennies,” Rep. Bobby Rush announced. 

As lawmakers look to tackle other issues first, the college said it's possible Congress may address doc pay cuts retroactively in 2022. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to lower the starting age from 55 down to 50 while also modifying required smoking pack-years. 

USPSTF wants to unearth ways to increase uptake in clinical practice, particularly among those at higher risk of death from the disease.

MCIT would have eliminated lag time between the FDA approving new technologies and the federal payment program covering them.