Tomorrow, May 20, the American College of Radiology (ACR) CEO will testify at a hearing of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. The ACR is expected to push for passage of H.R. 5737, the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission Act, which is also known as the ROOT Act. 

If passed, the ROOT Act will require most clinicians who order advanced diagnostic imaging tests to consult appropriate use criteria (AUC) using a clinical decision support tool approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The tool would need to be capable of reporting data to CMS about whether ordered imaging tests adhere to AUC. The Agency would then use the information to identify ordering clinicians who have low AUC consultation compliance rates.

The ACR's plan is being portrayed as simple and straightforward, but the truth is that not all CMS-approved clinical decision support tools will include AUC developed by the cardiovascular medical societies – the gold standard for determining the most appropriate cardiac imaging test.

Tell Congress to Oppose the ROOT Act

ASNC has long advocated against a mandate for AUC consultation — one that could take away the ability of physicians to use cardiology-developed AUC and could lead to suboptimal test selection. Earlier this month, ASNC sent a delegation of advocates to Capitol Hill, where they discussed the problems with the ROOT Act. Now, lawmakers must hear from you. Lawmakers need to know that you do NOT support ACR’s prescriptive plan and that the consultation of AUC should be woven into broader quality improvement efforts and value-based payment models.

To be clear, AUC consultation is superior to prior authorization processes, but adding yet another reporting mandate for Medicare Fee For Service is not going to solve the problems with prior authorization. Quite the opposite – the ROOT Act's AUC mandate would add more costs, more time, and more boxes for you and your colleagues to click. The ROOT Act targets every clinician and every advanced imaging test ordered for a Medicare Fee For Services beneficiary unless the consultation requirement is specifically excepted by the legislation. 

Take action today! Tell lawmakers to oppose the ROOT Act. Taking action takes just a few minutes when you use the template letter available in the ASNC Action Center.