Hospitals Must Integrate Imaging Technology to Avoid Cuts to Medicare Payments

In her View from the Hill article, Jill Rathbun of the Galileo Consulting Group summarizes the recent annual Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPac) report and explains how implementing a point of care ultrasound program can align health care delivery with the goals and themes of the report.

Each year MedPAC provides guidance to Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on payments for the Medicare programs.  This year's report includes the following themes:

  • Payment accuracy and encouraging efficiency
  • Care coordination and quality
  • Broadening information available to patients and providers
  • Engaging Medicare beneficiaries
  • Aligning the healthcare workforce

As U.S. healthcare moves to more quality based payment incentives for both hospitals and physicians avoiding complications and delivering safer care is paramount.  Implementing ultrasound at the point of care for many needle guided procedures can assist health care systems on achieving better scores and safer patient care.

Read how Ms. Rathbun explains the impact and covers the Medicare Payment Programs that face hospitals today.