March 2005 MedPAC Report to Congress

In 2005, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended that Congress require mandatory accreditation for all imaging services performed on Medicare beneficiaries to curb rapid utilization and spending growth and ensure patient safety. However, in 2008, Congress passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which mandated accreditation in Medicare Part B for a subset of imaging providers but excluded echocardiography-specific clinicians. MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program.