New Budget Reconciliation Act affects radiology

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, which was signed into law by President Bush on November 5, 1990, contains numerous changes in Medicare law affecting reimbursement to physicians and hospitals for outpatient radiology services. The basic fee schedule and cost reimbursement principles established over the past several years are not affected. Instead, the Act adjusts the calculation of payment amounts under these principles so that payments for radiology services (as for most other services) will be ratcheted down in 1991. The changes affecting both hospitals and physicians are described below, along with the one expansion of Medicare radiology coverage--for screening mammography--included in the Act.