On July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Rules for 2020.  These rules contain proposed policy and payment changes under the Medicare program.  Under both proposals, there appears to be a reduction in overall reimbursement for imaging services. 

The American College of Cardiology Board of Trustees (BOT) has approved the College's newest slate of officers and trustees . SCMR Past President and Gold Medal Award recipient Chris Kramer was elected to serve as Finance Chair Elect from 2020-2021 and is  expected to advance to Finance Chair/Treasurer from 2021-2024. Congratulations to Chris and to all of the newly elected officers.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have developed a novel imaging approach that has the potential to identify patients with coronary disease without administration of drugs or contrast dye and within a short 15 minute exam protocol. Described in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging, the technique involves measuring changes in blood flow in the myocardium -- the heart's muscular tissue -- after physical exercise by measuring magnetic properties of the tissue, thereby eliminating the need for any contrast media or pharmacological stress agents.  

Are you interested in finding a CMR training program or fellowship? The SCMR website lists several programs organized by 1-3 months, 6 months, 1 year plus, and introductory training. If you are interested in taking advantage of this member benefit please submit your program information to SCMR headquarters. 

To continue to improve our communication to the membership and the greater CMR community, the SCMR has created a company page on LinkedIn. Please check out the page, follow SCMR, and share the page with your colleagues.