Health Care Financing Administration--Medicare program; reimbursement for radiological services furnished to a hospital inpatient by a physician in the field of radiology. Final rule.

These regulations define "radiological services" for which the Medicare program provides for payment at 100 percent of reasonable charges. Section 1833(2)(1)(B) of the Act provides for the 100 percent reimbursement for "radiological services" when furnished to hospital inpatients by physicians in the field of radiology. CUrrent administrative guidelines restrict the 100 percent reimbursement to services in which X-rays or rays from radioactive substances are used. Proposed regulations published on January 25, 1979 (44 FR 5162) would have extended the 100 percent reimbursement to other diagnostic imaging services such as ultrasound. On the basis of information acquired through public comments on the proposed regulations, we have concluded that there is not sufficient reason at this time to extend the 100 percent reimbursement to services not already so reimbursed. Accordingly, these regulations follow current operating instructions and define "radiological services" as those in which ionizing radiation is used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.