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Cuts to the Medicare budget may be the absolute most harmful surgery of all for patients in need of medical imaging services. Congress made deep cuts earlier in the day this season in compensation for many medical imaging services that Medicare clients receive in independent imaging centers and physician offices. Learn further on an affiliated article by going to logo. Experts worry these cuts will mean higher costs and less access for many patients, especially those in rural areas. As a way to more completely understand their impact on patients Congress, say advocates, should impose a moratorium on the reductions. Starting in 2007, imaging services is likely to be reduced by Congress by some $8 billion over ten years. These cutbacks represent more than one-third of the total Medicare cuts in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. Get further on the affiliated site - Click here this month. The payment cutbacks influence a broad range of surgical procedures and tests presented in imaging centers and doctor offices. As an example, payment could be cut a 3-5 per cent for ultrasound to guide less-invasive chest biopsies; a 50 percent for PET/CT runs used for diagnosing and managing tumors; a 40 per cent for bone density studies for diagnosing osteoporosis; and a 42 for MR angiography that detects aneurysms in-the mind. Given the size of these and similar pieces, advocates warn that lots of physicians will probably stop or scale back on the imaging they supply in separate imaging stores or their very own offices. Patients will need to find these services at hospitals, which may be much further away and usually include higher out-of-pocket prices for patients, In such a circumstance. Because of this, easy access to services that many Medicare patients count on will not be available. Identify more on a related article directory - Hit this URL via. It's thought that patients in rural areas are likely to be the hardest hit. Unfortunately, say supporters such as the Use of Medical Imaging Coalition, these reductions were made without public hearings, public discussion or open debate. We discovered the infographic by browsing the Houston Times. The reductions were made without public participation, even though they'll likely influence the lives of numerous Medicare recipients. Rather, the Coalition thinks Congress must impose a moratorium on imaging cuts, so the Government Accountability Office may examine the problem..