Overview
Many physicians express the opinion, with vigor, that government regulation is the equivalent of government interference. The executive leadership of multiple physician professional societies regularly voice opposition to government intrusion into the realm of medical practice. Of particular concern is the proliferation of legislative proposals which are viewed by many physicians as an attack on the inviolability of the patient-physician relationship. The first article for your review this week demonstrates longstanding efforts to reign in the utilization of medical imaging by the FDA. The second article from CMS touches upon the AUC program originally conceived over 10 years ago and rolled out about 8 years ago as the ultimate solution to over-utilization. The gradual implementation since 2017 ended in what appears to be a permanent pause. Do you feel that additional government regulation of medical imaging including quality control, medical school curricula and any attempt to the imposition of decision guidelines has the potential to cause more harm or good? Why do you think the AUC program failed?
FDA-US Food & Drug
Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging | FDA
CMS-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services AUC Program