In May 2025, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-NV, introduced Senate Bill 1692, the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act. S 1692 addresses implementation concerns raised by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by amending the imaging appropriate use criteria section of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. S 1692 will simplify the administration of the AUC program and lead to savings for Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare system. 

This legislation will reduce the ever-increasing volume of imaging studies that are ordered and ensure that only appropriate imaging tests are performed. It will do this by requiring clinicians to consult evidence-based, physician-developed clinical guidelines at the point of ordering. 

Enacting S 1692 will also improve patient safety and help ensure the patient receives the appropriate test from the start.