This post was contributed by Ezequiel Silva, MD, chair of the American college of Radiology Economics Commission.

Mandatory use of appropriate use criteria-based clinical decision support is now real. We must get ready!

The recent 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule confirmed that CMS will require providers to consult appropriate use criteria (AUC) prior to ordering advanced imaging — effective Jan. 1, 2020.

We need to make our referring provider aware of this deadline, and show them how we both can start using CDS now for free with the ACR-managed Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network (R-SCAN^TM) program.

On Dec. 11 at 7pm Eastern Time, I will take part in the second of a series of free ACR webinars laying out the CDS mandate requirements, demonstrating how R-SCAN^TM participation prepares referring providers for CDS technology adoption and highlighting steps you can take to support CDS success.

I strongly urge you to register for this webinar and those webinars to follow.

Please visit (and bookmark) the ACR Clinical Decision Support Resources section to find out what you need to know about the CDS mandate and what you need to do to meet the CMS requirements.

We have a little over a year to get ready for the Medicare AUC mandate.

Take advantage of ACR resources to help us get ready.

Come Jan. 1, 2020, you will be glad you did.

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