2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

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nuclear medicine services in either definition because, at
that time, we believed that diagnostic nuclear medicine
services were not commonly considered to be radiology
services and that therapeutic nuclear medicine services were
not commonly considered to be radiation therapy services.
We received one comment urging us to include nuclear
medicine services in the definition of radiology services.
In the Phase II final rule, published on March 26, 2004 (69
FR 16054), we indicated that we were concerned with the
issues raised by the commenter and that we might revisit the
issue of nuclear medicine in a proposed rule.
2. Proposal to Include Nuclear Medicine
Our knowledge of nuclear medicine, which is based in
part on our awareness of the health care community’s view of
nuclear medicine, has changed significantly since we
published the Phase I final rule. As a result, we have
reconsidered the question of whether nuclear medicine
services should be considered a DHS. We are proposing to
amend §411.351 to include diagnostic nuclear medicine
services in the definition of “radiology and certain other
imaging services” and to include therapeutic nuclear
medicine services in the definition of “radiation therapy
services and supplies.” We believe this change is needed in
light of the statute’s inclusion of radiology and radiation
therapy as DHS. We also believe this change is appropriate,