ACR CEO Challenges US House Lawmakers to Pass ROOT Act

ACR^® CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR, urged Congress to advance the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act (HR 5737) - and other Medicare payment and practice stability improvements - at a May 20 U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing.  ROOT Act language modernizes previous Appropriate Use Criteria framework by enabling real-time clinical decision support at the point of care.

The ROOT Act is projected to generate over 10 years approximately $2 billion in savings for the Medicare program, and roughly $1.5 billion in savings to Medicare beneficiaries. These changes would improve patient care by reducing unnecessary testing and copays, creating a more efficient and affordable healthcare system. The ROOT Act is included in a draft bill being circulated that includes an inflationary update, MIPS reform and budget neutrality fixes.

The College provides these related sources for additional information: 

• Video of Dr. Smetherman's testimony (YouTube)
• acr ceo calls for payment stability reform
• Dr. Smetherman's written testimony

If you have questions or for more information, contact Rebecca Spangler, ACR Senior Director of Government Affairs.