Washington, D.C. – The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) –  the leading trade association representing the manufacturers of medical imaging equipment, radiopharmaceuticals, contrast media, and focused ultrasound therapeutic devices – today submitted a letter to the newly appointed Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. In the letter, MITA congratulated Administrator Brooks-LaSure for her recent confirmation and outlined a series of key policy priorities for the new Administration to consider.

“On behalf of MITA and its Member companies, we congratulate Administrator Brooks-LaSure on her appointment to lead CMS and oversee the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” said Patrick Hope, Executive Director of MITA. “Her appointment comes amid unprecedented disruptions to America’s healthcare system, and we look forward to working with Administrator Brooks-LaSure to support the Agency’s response to the pandemic while ensuring ongoing beneficiary access to innovative imaging technologies.” 

Among the key priorities outlined in the letter are the federal government’s ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis. Recognizing the critical role of medical imaging technologies in supporting America’s healthcare infrastructure and improving care pathways for treating patients with innumerable medical conditions, including COVID-19, MITA urged Administrator Brooks-LaSure to devote resources to communicate to beneficiaries and practitioners the importance of prioritizing and rescheduling non-emergent care. MITA also implored the Agency to “offer incentive payments to caregivers to catch up on any care that was foregone since the beginning of the public health emergency (PHE).” 

“To avoid compounding the access, economic, and innovation challenges that beneficiaries, providers, and medical technology manufacturers have faced during the pandemic and its recovery phase, CMS should not implement any new policies that result in additional payment cuts or unnecessary administrative burdens,” added Hope. “A strong recovery will promote public health, enable beneficiary access, and support adoption of innovative medical imaging technologies such as artificial intelligence platforms, novel radiotracers, and new scanners for the future.”

While bolstering the federal response to COVID-19 is the most immediate near-term priority for MITA, the letter also outlined a series of other objectives, including: 

• establishing appropriate incentives for the adoption and use of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions
• ensuring appropriate coding, coverage, and payment for imaging drugs
• improving rate-setting methodologies for outpatient services to ensure the cost of providing care is appropriately recognized
• finalizing the Medicare Coverage for Innovative Technologies (MCIT) rule and using this policy as a stepping-stone to improved efficiencies in the market access process
• continuing to streamline the coding application and issuance process

To read the full MITA letter to Administrator Brooks-LaSure, click here.