Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4624
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T15:50:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Social Security Act to add Medicare coverage and payment for services performed by radiologist assistants when working under a radiologist's supervision. The goal is to recognize these providers as part of the radiology care team and remove barriers to their services within the Medicare program.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Radiologist assistant services include tasks that would qualify as physician services if performed by a doctor, but are instead done by a certified radiologist assistant under radiologist oversight. These services must be allowed by state law, and no other provider may bill for them. A radiologist assistant is defined as a radiographer certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
- Coverage addition: Section 1861(s)(2)(K) of the Social Security Act is updated to include radiologist assistant services as covered benefits.
- Payment rules: Payment is set at the level used for similar non-physician providers. In hospital, critical access hospital, or ambulatory surgical center settings, payment goes to the supervising radiologist. The technical component of imaging services remains unchanged.
- Effective date: The changes apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
- Findings: The bill includes statements emphasizing that radiologist assistants work only under radiologist supervision, do not interpret images, and seek to support rather than replace radiologists.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill expands Medicare's definition of covered services to explicitly include radiologist assistant services, which were not previously listed. It creates new payment mechanisms tied to the physician fee schedule but directed to the supervising radiologist in facility settings. Rules of construction preserve existing payments for the technical component of imaging and for services personally performed by radiologists.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would implement new billing and payment processes, potentially affecting program costs and administrative workload.
- Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries may gain improved access to radiology services through expanded use of supervised assistants, which could support more efficient care delivery.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Radiologist assistants and the radiologists who supervise them.
- Hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgical centers where these services are furnished.
- Medicare beneficiaries receiving radiology care.
- The Medicare program and its administering agencies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within the existing framework of the Social Security Act and does not alter state licensing requirements or allow independent practice by radiologist assistants. It maintains radiologist oversight as a core condition for coverage. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text. Politically, the measure focuses on team-based care models while explicitly preserving the role of radiologists in image interpretation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)