July 30, 2026
Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for services of radiologist assistants under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
Radiologist assistants are advanced-level radiographers who are critically important members of the radiologist-led team.
(2)
Radiologist assistants work strictly under the supervision of a radiologist to promote high standards of patient care by assisting radiologists in the diagnostic and interventional imaging environment.
(3)
In every jurisdiction authorizing radiologist assistants to practice, they are only permitted to furnish services when delegated by and under the supervision of a radiologist.
(4)
Radiologist assistants value their working and professional relationships with radiologists and have never sought, nor do they seek, the ability to practice independent of radiologists.
(5)
While radiologist assistants perform various valuable professional services and may make and communicate initial observations to the radiologist, radiologist assistants are not qualified to perform interpretations (preliminary, final, or otherwise) of any radiological examination.
(6)
Removing barriers to care rendered by radiologist assistants under the supervision of a radiologist will provide value-based, efficient solutions to improve patient outcomes while ensuring patient safety.
Sec. 3. Medicare payment for radiologist assistant services
(a) Coverage
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (s)(2)(K)—
(A)
in clause (ii), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting , and
; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new clause:
(iii)
radiologist assistant services (as defined in subsection (ooo)(1));; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(ooo) Radiologist assistant services; radiologist assistant
(1) Radiologist assistant services
The term radiologist assistant services means—
(A)
services which would be physicians’ services if furnished by a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) and which are performed by a radiologist assistant (as defined in paragraph (2)) under the supervision of a radiologist;
(B)
services which the radiologist assistant is legally authorized to perform by the State in which the services are performed; and
(C)
services in which no other provider (other than the supervising radiologist) charges or is paid any amount with respect to the furnishing of such services.
(2) Radiologist assistant
The term radiologist assistant means a radiographer who is certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a registered radiologist assistant to perform radiologist assistant services.
(3) Rules of construction
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting—
(A)
coverage of and payment for the technical component (including the technical component of a global fee) with respect to imaging services under this title as in effect before the date of the enactment of this subsection;
(B)
the amount of payment made for physicians’ services under this title when such services are personally performed by a radiologist; or
(C)
the amount of payment made under this title for services furnished by a covered facility setting (as defined in section 1848(a)(10)(B)).
(b) Payment in relation to physician fee schedule
(1) Payment level
Section 1833(a)(1)(O) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(O)) is amended by striking or clinical nurse specialists
and inserting clinical nurse specialists, or in the case of services provided in a covered facility setting (as defined in section 1848(a)(10)(B)), radiologist assistants
.
(2) Application of fee schedule in hospital, ambulatory surgical center settings
Section 1848(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(10) Application of fee schedule for radiologist assistant services in hospital, ambulatory surgical center settings
(A) In general
In the case of radiologist assistant services (as defined in section 1861(ooo)(1)) furnished in a covered facility setting (as defined in subparagraph (B)), payment for such services furnished in such setting shall be made to the supervising radiologist in the amount determined pursuant to section 1833(a)(1)(O).
(B) Covered facility setting defined
In this paragraph, the term covered facility setting means—
(i)
a hospital or critical access hospital;
(ii)
an ambulatory surgical center; and
(iii)
such other providers of services as the Secretary may specify.
(3) Payment to supervising radiologist
Section 1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)) is amended in the first sentence—
(A)
by striking and
before (J)
; and
(B)
by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and (K) in the case of services described in section 1861(s)(2)(K)(iii) (relating to radiologist assistant services), payment shall be made to the supervising radiologist
.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.