In February 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the suspension of the Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (AUC) program for radiology. This suspension is a result of the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), which went into effect on January 1, 2024. 

The AUC Program was born out of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA), with the goal of saving money for the Medicare program. AUC was a decision-making tool to determine if advanced radiological studies were needed for Medicare patients prior to the studies being ordered. Medicare physicians were required to review criteria created by CMS-approved peer medical organizations, to ensure only necessary advanced studies were ordered. 

With the AUC Program dissipating, physicians will no longer be required to include AUC consultation information on MPFS claims, and the use of HCPCS G Codes and Modifiers will be terminated at the end of 2024. However, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will process Medicare claims containing G codes and modifiers for advanced diagnostic imaging services until December 31, 2024. After January 1, 2025, the requirements of the AUC Program will not be in effective for radiology providers.