The American College of Radiology (ACR) is cautioning Medicare as it aims to expedite payment for innovative medical devices through its proposed RAPID initiative, which seeks faster coverage for "breakthrough" devices. In a letter to CMS, ACR expressed concerns about the transparency of FDA Breakthrough Device designations, advocating for a public dashboard revealing essential information about device eligibility. The college emphasized the need for clinician feedback to identify relevant outcomes and potential implementation risks before national coverage determinations are made. ACR also recommended that traditional coverage determinations take precedence over RAPID ones and that eligibility for RAPID be limited to devices with Medicare-relevant evidence. The RAPID program aims to reduce the current lag time of nearly six years between FDA approval and Medicare payment. A final rule based on public input is expected to follow the recent comment period.
Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:25:19 GMT | Radiology Business