Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for payment for services of radiologist assistants under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2026 proposes to change Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. Specifically, it aims to allow Medicare to pay for services provided by radiology assistants. These assistants can help radiologists, who are doctors that interpret medical images like X-rays and MRIs. This bill hopes to make radiology services more accessible and efficient under Medicare.
This bill would primarily affect patients who rely on radiology services under Medicare and the radiology assistants who provide these services. By allowing Medicare to cover radiology assistants, it may help reduce wait times for patients needing imaging tests and make it easier for them to get the care they need. It could also create more job opportunities for radiology assistants.
As of May 21, 2026, the bill has just been introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. This is the first step in the legislative process, where the committee will review the bill and potentially make changes before it moves forward. The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing or vote.
