What is a Radiologist Assistant (RA)?
A Radiologist Assistant (RA) is a Radiologic Technologist (RT) who advanced their education and received additional certifications as a Registered Radiologist Assistant (RRA) and/or Radiology Practitioner Assistant (RPA).
We serve our departments and patients as a radiologist extender who has been specifically trained in radiation protection, image guided procedures, imaging pathologies, and much more! This gives a unique patient experience while taking advantage of our medical imaging background, better serving the entire radiology department.
What is MARCA (Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act)
MARCA is a national bill that would serve to recognize the "Radiologist Assistant" (RRA/RPA) to perform procedures "incident to" the radiologist in the facility settings that offer image guided procedures.
By CMS rules a Radiologist Assistant (RA) falls under the definition as "auxiliary staff". In 2003 CMS defined that "auxiliary staff" cannot perform "incident to" a physician in the inpatient setting.
MARCA serves as a pathway to recognize the RA as "auxiliary staff" who would be recognized as able to perform procedures "incident to" a radiologist in facility settings. These services are then billed by the supervising radiologist at a rate of 85%.