You, as the owner of an imaging center, must know that there is another payment cut under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) from CMS that has already been imposed from this year 2025. The drop is almost 2.8% from the rate of 2024. Your payments from Medicare have already been reduced by almost 10% over the last 10 years and it is happening again from this time. You have probably noticed that the proposed reduction rate was 3.36% last year but Congress took action and reduced it further by 1.77%. You can hope for something similar in 2025. The Conversion Factor (CF) for 2025 now is set at $32.3562, lower than the current $33.2875. 

You will not see much change in billing for most imaging centers with the new PFS rule—CMS says the impact will be around 0%. But if you are in interventional imaging procedures, you might face a 2% cut. These numbers do not include any adjustments that Congress might make like they did for the 2024 fee schedule. Here is what the real impact could look like: 

Now, let's hear some positive news for your imaging center billing solutions. 

Some good news for you: 

You would be happy to know that CMS has already proposed that CT Colonography (CTC) would be considered as the covered service from this year. 

The important thing is that now your patients can avail more options for colorectal cancer screening as Medicare beneficiaries. You probably have already had the update that the American College of Radiology (ACR) has already taken full authority to add new screening tests including CTC. ACR took this vital decision based on the recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Task Force. 

Another crucial rule that you must know is that the proposed rule would remove coverage for the double-contrast barium enema since it has mostly been replaced by CTC for colorectal cancer screening. 

You can keep using two-way audio and video technology for direct supervision of some procedures until December 31, 2025. This rule has been around since 2020, but CMS has not made it permanent yet. They are still looking at how it might affect patient safety and care. Imaging center billing services need to stay updated on these changes. 

Now, you need to know about the upcoming changes in the Quality Payment Program in 2025 so that your imaging center billing process can always stay ahead of the game.

• You should know that the Medicare PFS does not just change fees—it also includes rules for the Quality Payment Program (QPP). You have been probably working with QRP through the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and now the good news is that you will experience better changes in MIPS scoring from this year. 
  
  
• You do not see MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) for imaging center billing yet because there are not enough measure sets for it. CMS is working on creating MVPs using the current Specialty Measure Sets. These will be temporary fixes until new measures are ready for imaging services. 
  
  
• You can now earn more points under MIPS if you are running an imaging center. Right now, there is a limit of seven points for Quality Category measures, but CMS wants to remove that limit. If they do, you could get the full ten points for measures like 360, 364, 405, and 406 in diagnostic imaging procedures. This change could make a substantial difference for you. 
  
  
• You should know that Measure #436, which looks at using lower radiation doses for adult CT scans, is being removed in 2025. It is being replaced by Measure #494, which checks for too much radiation or bad image quality in diagnostic CT scans for adults. An imaging center billing company can help you keep track of these changes easily. 

You know managing an imaging center billing service has never been easy and especially in 2025 working on seamless billing with all the changes in CMS billing rules will be quite a challenge. Keeping track of fee cuts, new measures, and updated guidelines might often make you feel overwhelmed. That is why outsourcing your imaging center billing services can make a huge difference. These experts stay on top of every update, ensuring your billing is always accurate and compliant. With their help, you can enjoy a smooth revenue cycle process, timely reimbursements, and excellent cash flow. Outsourcing lets you focus on running your imaging center while they handle the complicated billing work for you. Outsourcing your imaging center billing services is like having a secret weapon in your corner—making all the difference when it comes to smoother operations and better financial health. So, enjoy perfect revenue cycle management with a professional imaging center billing solution and gain a competitive edge.