President Obama made it clear that his FY 2015 budget proposal was not designed to be a "grand bargain" for Democrats and Republicans in Congress but rather stand as a marker for savings in other health care initiatives, like the sustainable growth rate formula (SGR) repeal.

"This budget reminds everyone of the potential areas in the health care system where the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] and others recommend where there could be savings," said Carpenter. "It obviously reflects what the administration would be potentially likely to support, as far as savings or offsets."

MITA and ACR, along with other imaging supporters, are urging the president to work with Congress to pursue alternative solutions to proper imaging use rather than prior authorization.

For example, the current SGR repeal bill includes a provision that incentivizes ordering physicians to embrace appropriateness criteria when coordinating medical imaging exams for patients. It would deny payment to those providers who do not follow appropriateness criteria, which are meant to boost quality and cut down on duplicate or unnecessary scanning and their associated costs.

"This is a far more effective and efficient policy than blanket prior authorization. Electronic ordering systems, based on these criteria, are compatible with hospital electronic health records systems and are shown to reduce duplicate and unnecessary scanning and associated costs without taking decisions out of doctors' hands or affecting access to care," said Dr. Paul H. Ellenbogen, chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors, in a statement. "This approach enjoys bicameral, bipartisan support. We will continue to work with Congress to advance this policy."

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