ASNC’s Policy Priorities
Physician Reimbursement – Ensuring Fairness and Stability
ASNC advocates for Medicare physician payment predictability, stability, and adequacy. These efforts include requesting legislative interventions that provide annual inflationary updates to physician payments tied to the Medicare Economic Index and advocating for reform of budget-neutrality requirements to avoid future cuts to the Medicare physician payment conversion factor and significant fee schedule redistribution. ASNC calls on Congress to improve financial incentives and reduce administrative burden associated with participation in Medicare quality improvement programs, including the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.
Coverage Policies – Supporting Patient Access to Nuclear Cardiology Services
ASNC fights to protect the valuation of nuclear cardiology services, including costs associated with the delivery of those services, such as equipment and imaging agents. ASNC also works with payers to ensure coverage policies support patients’ access to medically necessary nuclear cardiology services as a first-line imaging modality.
Prior Authorization – Removing Barriers to Cardiovascular Care
ASNC opposes the hassle associated with insurance company utilization management tactics, including prior authorization requirements, that delay patient access to timely care, such as for diagnostic imaging services. ASNC calls on Congress to pass legislation that codifies and expands existing regulations to streamline and improve the transparency of prior authorization processes.
Medical Isotope Availability – Supporting Supply Chain Resiliency
ASNC is in close contact with radioisotope manufacturers and the Emergency Response team from Nuclear Medicine Europe to monitor for supply disruptions and ensure that nuclear cardiologists are prepared for possible disruptions. As demand for medical isotopes grows, ASNC continues to support policies that improve supply chain resiliency and avoid critical shortages of radiopharmaceuticals needed for patient care.
Appropriate Use – Fostering Appropriate Use of Imaging Technology
As a leader in the development and promotion of appropriate use criteria (AUC) for diagnostic imaging, ASNC advocates for policies that encourage the consultation of AUC by healthcare professionals in a manner that is targeted and affords physicians maximum flexibility to consult specialty-specific AUC using the mechanism of their choosing.
Radiation Safety – Protecting Patients and Personnel
ASNC serves as a leading voice on safety, training, and education requirements for the use of radionuclides. ASNC engages with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies to ensure prioritization of patient and healthcare personnel safety.
