Radiologists and advocates are trying to persuade Connecticut lawmakers to reverse a cut made last year to the state Medicaid reimbursement rate for radiology services.
There's concern the approximate 40 percent rate cut has already decreased poor and minority women's access to mammography service while possibly increasing their risk for undetected breast cancer.
The rate cut has already prompted MidState Medical Radiology Associations to stop accepting Medicaid at locations in Meriden, Wallingford and Cheshire.
The legislature's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus is working to reverse the reimbursement rate reduction.
There's also a bill under consideration that would require the Department of Social Services to study the ramifications of the rate reduction on patient access to radiology services. DDS said it hasn't seen evidence that access to mammograms has been reduced.