Radiology groups, including the American College of Radiology, met with Rebekah Armstrong, Chief of Staff at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to express concerns regarding the No Surprises Act. The groups claim that radiologists are compelled to accept stagnant or reduced in-network contract rates and often have to resort to federal arbitration to negotiate fair reimbursements. The meeting followed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that CMS believes physicians are manipulating the system for higher payments. One of the points raised was the experience of Radiology Associates of North Texas (RANT) dealing with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, which reportedly used artificially low payment amounts and refused to negotiate fairly, leading to many practices being forced out of network. ACR criticized the significant disconnect between qualifying payment amounts and market realities, stating that insurers are failing to comply with legal obligations regarding timely payments post-arbitration. Armstrong acknowledged CMS's limitations in enforcing regulatory compliance but indicated that tackling these issues is a priority for the agency. A recent court ruling against insurers' payment calculations was considered a win for radiologists, prompting ACR to advocate for stronger enforcement of the No Surprises Act by Congress.
Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:18:13 GMT | Radiology Business