Latest News

NCCI Implements Some of SNMMI's Proposed Changes to PTP Edits
Mar 4, 2021 — On March 1, 2021, CMS' National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) implemented several Procedure to Procedure (PTP) edits proposed by SNMMI for several of the new and revised CPT codes. These edits are retroactively effective January 1, 2020.

SNMMI & Partners Urge Congress to Waive Budget Neutrality for MPFS Beyond 2021
Feb 23, 2021 — SNMMI and 74 other organizations urged legislators to consider additional policy options in the year ahead to address shortcomings in physician reimbursement. 

NRC Unveils Patient Educational Video on Radioactive Drug Therapy 
Jan 26, 2021 — U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the release of the video, “Staying Safe While Getting Better, Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones While Taking Radioactive Drugs.”

President Signs 2021 Appropriations Act, Supplements Physician Reimbursement, Provides COVID-19 Relief 
Dec 27, 2020 — President Trump signed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 into law. The House (359 to 53) and Senate (91 to 7) passed the legislation by a vote of 359 to 53 on December 22. This is good news for physician reimbursement.

SNMMI & Partners Take Action to Ensure Imaging Professionals are Included in Phase 1a of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution 
Dec 16, 2020 — On December 1, the CDC ACIP recommended that health care personnel who provide direct patient care be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination when it becomes available. SNMMI has taken action with partner organizations to support the inclusion of imaging professionals in that allocation.

SNMMI and Coalition Support Bill Waiving Budget Neutrality in New Senate Bill 
Dec 15, 2020 — SNMMI and a coalition consisting of 77 medical societies sent a letter to Congress in support of S. 5007, a bill to halt pending Medicare payment cuts resulting from the planned evaluation and management (E/M) code changes slated for implementation on January 1, 2021.

Final 2021 MPFS Rule Fails to Provide Relief, SNMMI and Coalition Lobby Congress to Protect Physician Reimbursement and Access to Care 
Dec 2, 2020 — On December 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. Though SNMMI agrees with the adoption of the new evaluation and management (E/M) coding structure recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA), this will result in significant payment reductions to nuclear medicine (~8%) and radiology (~11%) services unless the government removes the budget neutrality requirements.

SNMMI Objects to Humana’s Decision to Deny Coverage for PET/CT
Nov 12, 2020 — On November 6, SNMMI received word regarding Humana’s recent decision [Policy Number: HCS-0506-010] to deny coverage for PET/CT (CPT codes 78429-78433) on the basis that it is “experimental/investigational” and “not identified as widely used and generally accepted for the proposed uses as reported in nationally recognized peer-reviewed medical literature.”

SNMMI and Coalition Support Bill Waiving Budget Neutrality, Increasing Proposed Physician Reimbursement for 2021
Nov 11, 2020 — SNMMI and a coalition consisting of 73 medical societies sent a letter to Congress in support of H.R. 8702, a bill to halt pending Medicare payment cuts resulting from the planned evaluation and management (E/M) code changes slated for implementation on January 1, 2021.