Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026

H.R. 9984 amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Part B coverage to include "radiologist assistant services."

* **Medicare Part B Beneficiaries:** Patients receiving Medicare-covered radiology services. * **Radiologist Assistants (RAs):** Individuals who are certified as registered radiologist assistants by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. * **Supervising Radiologists:** Doctors who supervise radiologist assistants and handle the billing for these services. * **Healthcare Facilities:** Hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and any other provider settings designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

* **Coverage Expansion:** Starting **January 1, 2027**, Medicare Part B will cover services provided by a certified radiologist assistant, provided those services: * Would normally be considered physician services if performed by a radiologist; * Are performed under the supervision of a radiologist; * Fall within the RA’s legal scope of practice under state law; and * Are performed in a covered facility setting (such as a hospital or ambulatory surgical center). * **Payment Direction:** Medicare must pay the **supervising radiologist** directly for RA services, rather than paying the assistant or the facility. * **Agency Responsibilities:** The Secretary of HHS is authorized to specify additional provider settings where covered RA services may be performed.

* Payments for radiologist assistant services in covered facilities will be set according to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. * The bill specifically maintains existing payment rules for: * The technical costs of imaging (such as equipment or facility fees); * Services performed personally by a radiologist; and * Direct payments made to facilities under established Medicare rules. * The summary does not specify total spending estimates or overall budget impacts.

* **Certification Requirement:** To qualify for coverage, the assistant must be certified as a registered radiologist assistant by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. * **State Law Limits:** The services provided must fit within the assistant's legal scope of practice under state law. * **Single-Billing Requirement:** Services are not covered if they are billed to or paid to any provider other than the supervising radiologist. * **Effective Date:** These changes do not apply to services rendered before **January 1, 2027**.

Beginning January 1, 2027, Medicare Part B will pay supervising radiologists under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for care provided by certified radiologist assistants in authorized healthcare settings.