In February the US Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act that caps out reimbursements for life-saving technologies, including CT and MRI procedures. As reported in DOTmed News, this has a three pronged effect:

First, tens of thousands of treatable diseases per year may go undetected until it is too late. This could cost more money in the long run because the sicknesses were not discovered in the early stages. To say nothing of the human toll.

Second, many free-standing imaging centers are at risk financially because many patients will not be able to afford their new co-payments. If these centers close, hospitals will become overburdened with the imaging centers former patients, delaying early detection and treatment due to increased wait time for treatment.


Third, original equipment manufacturers and the imaging after-market will suffer because new equipment may not be worth the cost and there will be few buyers who can afford the cost of perfectly delinquent used equipment.

How can you get your opinion counted?

We are urging all DOTmed Users to contact their Senators and Representatives. Click here, then enter your zip code to find the contact information you need.

What do you say? If you like the message below, cut and paste it into an email to your Senator and U.S. Representatives:

Diagnostic imaging is the most effective tool for the detection of serious disease. Do not let the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements outlined in the Deficit Reduction Act go into effect for 2007. I support the Access to Medicare Imaging Act [H.R. 5704, S 3795]. The health of America is at stake.

We urge you to make your opinion count.

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