The American Society of Radiologic Technologists supports House Resolution 3772, a measure that loosens certain radiopharmaceutical bundling practices and simplifies Medicare billing for nuclear medicine procedures.

Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are defined by statute as drugs, but despite acknowledging concerns about growing patient access issues, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services treats them as supplies and packages them into procedural bundles. The bundling of radiopharmaceuticals has proved to be problematic as diagnostic radiopharmaceutical costs can vary widely within nuclear medicine procedures.

The current process discourages hospitals to utilize innovative and targeted radiopharmaceuticals, limits investment in and research for new diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and may impede patient access to the most appropriate diagnostic tools at readily accessible health care locations. In addition, it may also result in inaccurate diagnoses and ineffective treatment plans.

The ASRT, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance and Council on Radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals support HR 3772.

ASRT asks its members to visit the Advocacy Action Center and send an email to their Congressional representative to ask that he or she cosponsors this important patient care bill.