Appropriations Act Contains Report Language Urging CMS to Address Low CCT Payment

On December 23, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which funds the federal government through September 30, 2023. The omnibus spending package is a combination of appropriations bills that each authorize funds for different parts of the government.

Throughout 2022, SCCT met with members of the House and Senate to advocate for inclusion of report language in the Appropriations bill urging CMS to address inadequate payment for cardiac computed tomography. The passed legislative package contains the following report language provided here and found on page 112 of the Labor-HHS Committee final explanatory statement:

• Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT).-The agreement notes that unstable and low Medicare payments for cardiac CT services is contributing to significant disparity in access to services among minority populations and encourages CMS to address this inequity.

SCCT is pleased that members of Congress supported this effort to address low reimbursement for cardiac CT. The text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 is available here.