Download to read

AOCR Representative Report – Susann Schetter, DO, FAOCR
2016 ACR Annual Meeting
May 15 – 20, 2016
“If you’re in medicine, you’re in politics”
-ACR Board Chair, James Brink, M.D.
As an interesting departure from the address given by General Colin Powell last year, the Keynote Speaker
for this year’s assembly was Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Oncologist and Fellow at the Center for American
Progress. As a proponent of and contributor to the ACA, he admittedly has few friends that are radiologists,
and the half empty ballroom during his speech helped make this point. He directed his comments to known
data on imaging utilization. Emanuel points to the fact that of 80 million CT scans performed per year in the
US, 30% are estimated to be unnecessary. How many times have we ourselves commented on imaging
ordered without clear indications, particularly in the ED? Hypo-fractionation of whole breast radiation now
reduces treatment for breast cancer from seven to three weeks, yet there are relatively few offering this
option. His message did not simply target radiology and radiation oncology, but medicine as a whole, a
challenge to reinvent the delivery of healthcare. Emanuel outlined a decreased need for imaging and also
challenged the group to think of our specialty being replaced by machines as it becomes more profitable for
technology groups to improve available detection algorithms that are currently rudimentary. Attendees may
have opted out of listening to Emanuel’s message, but as in sport, without the information of a good scouting
report, you are poorly prepared for the challenger.
A more positive message was presented by Ezequiel Silva, III MD, Chair. ACR Commission on Economics
who sees the growing Medicare population as an opportunity for Radiology, acknowledging that the increase
in Medicare beneficiaries from 54 million to 80 million by 2030 will necessitate substantial change in the
healthcare system.
MACRA (the compromise that brought an end to the SGR), and economics was at the forefront in the
presentations delivered. MIPS and APMs that comprise the future of reimbursement were defined and
presenters further challenged attendees to prioritize activities that will enhance the role of the radiologist in
the interdisciplinary team, and the importance of patient engagement, putting patient and family (not
providers) at the center of healthcare. Acknowledging that fee for service will continue to be the primary way
we are paid for the near future, the ACR continues their advocacy to assure that the services we provided is
valued and that payment rates reflect that value. Insurance plans are increasing the patient’s deductible and
co-pays for services. Payer consolidation is likely, and we should expect patients to look for price
transparency when they are healthcare shopping. https://acrbulletin.org/acr-bulletin-may-2016/493-macramips-economics
Data presented from the Radiology Survey conducted by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute
showing projected trends for hiring to increase, with the most popular (top 6) subspecialties for hiring being:
Breast Imaging, Interventional (General), Neuroradiology, General Radiology, Body Imaging (GI, GU) MSK,
and ER/trauma.
D.O.’s elected Fellowship in the ACR this year were honored at the Convocation and President’s reception.
We congratulate Dr. Dean Fullingim on his election to Fellowship in the ACR.