May 18, 2006 -- More than 40 Republican members of Congress have signed a letter delivered to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R, Ill.) expressing mounting concern over the likely impact of drastic medical imaging cuts, passed without any public deliberations or hearings, as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, reports the American College of Radiology.

A growing number of lawmakers are concerned over the significant unintended consequences these cuts may have on Medicare beneficiaries--possible higher copayments, increased wait and travel times to receive imaging services, and discouragement of research and development of new technologies to benefit patients.

The members who have signed the letter to Speaker Hastert have committed to work with congressional leadership to mitigate the impact of these payment reductions and balance fiscal restraint with patient access.
Click here to read the letter in its entirety.

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