The American College of Radiology Association® (ACRA®) Radiology Advocacy Network recently sent out a call-to-action (CTA) urging American College of Radiology® (ACR®) members to contact their lawmakers and ask that they take immediate action to stop the 3.4% cut in Medicare payment included in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule (MPFS).
Member engagement with the CTA has resulted in more than 4,100 emails, 121 tweets and 60 phone calls to Congress, but an even greater response is possible and necessary. Members who have not taken action are asked to do so now.
Advocacy efforts by an ACR-led coalition of physicians and non-physicians resulted in the Senate Committee on Finance inclusion of a 1.25% increase to the 2024 Medicare physician payment conversion factor as part of its mark-up of the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act.
Due to the uncertainty of which provision, if any, addressing physician payment will be included in a year-end package passed by Congress, the call-to-action will serve as a vital reminder to Congress that they need to reduce or eliminate the full 3.4% Medicare cut.
For more information about the MPFS, contact Ashley Walton, ACR Government Affairs Director. For information on RAN and how to become involved in advocacy, contact Melody Ballesteros, Assistant Director, Government Relations.