CMS delays enforcement of Appropriate Use Criteria for advanced imaging

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced that it will delay indefinitely the payment penalty period of the Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced imaging services. The program, which was set to potentially go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, requires imaging provider claims to include additional information regarding the ordering physician’s consultation with clinical decision support tools. The AHA since 2021, through letters to CMS dating back to last June and September, has led a sustained effort to urge delayed enforcement of these provisions until the process can occur efficiently without adding significant administrative burden on providers.