Bill > S1692

This bill, known as the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act, aims to modify the data collection requirements for appropriate use criteria of medical imaging services under Medicare. Starting January 1, 2026, the bill introduces several key changes: clinical decision support mechanisms will be required to provide more detailed information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including data about imaging service orders; healthcare providers will need to maintain and report specific information about imaging service orders; and the Secretary will establish a system to identify and track "low compliant" ordering professionals based on their adherence to appropriate use criteria when ordering imaging services. The bill creates exemptions for certain types of imaging services, including mammographies, lung cancer screenings, and colonoscopies, and provides special considerations for small practices and those in rural health professional shortage areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that a study be conducted every five years starting in 2031 to assess compliance rates, the impact on imaging service utilization, and potential mechanisms for improving adherence, such as prior authorization or payment adjustments. The goal is to promote more appropriate and cost-effective use of medical imaging services by ensuring healthcare providers consult clinical decision support mechanisms when ordering these services.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1692/all-info