Freedom of Practice in Medical Imaging.

Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS encourage and support collaborative specialty development and review of any appropriateness criteria, practice guidelines, technical standards, and accreditation programs, and support the AMA Code of Ethics as the guiding principle in the development of such programs; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS actively and strongly oppose efforts by private payers,hospitals, Congress, the state legislature, and the Administration to impose policies designed to control utilization and costs of medical services unless those policies can be proven to achieve cost savings and improve quality; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS actively oppose efforts by private payers, hospitals,Congress, the state legislature, and the Administration to impose imaging policy if those efforts compromise appropriate patient access or quality of care; and be it furtherRESOLVED: That MSMS actively support the reimbursement of imaging procedures performed and interpreted by physicians based on appropriate indications for the procedure and the qualifications (training and experience) of the physicians trained in that specific imaging technique regardless of their medical specialty.RATIONALE: The author of the resolution discussed revised language with radiologyrepresentatives, and the amended language supported by the Committee reflects language supported by both parties.