119th (2025–2027)
S. 4624
This bill would expand Medicare coverage to include payment for radiologist assistant services beginning January 1, 2027. Radiologist assistants are advanced radiography professionals who work under the direct supervision of radiologists to assist with diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures. Under the bill, Medicare would pay supervising radiologists for services performed by certified radiologist assistants in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgical centers, treating these services similarly to those provided by other supervised clinical professionals like nurse specialists. The legislation emphasizes that radiologist assistants would not be authorized to independently interpret imaging results and would remain strictly supervised by radiologists. The bill aims to increase patient access to imaging services and improve efficiency in radiology departments while maintaining quality standards and patient safety.