Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) was joined by her colleagues, Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), and Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), in reintroducing the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act (PURE Act) to modernize our healthcare system and improve access to care for vulnerable populations.

“Portable ultrasound equipment provides medical professionals with the ability to diagnose conditions quickly and efficiently. However, outdated Medicare barriers have restricted the ability of healthcare providers to fully use this technology,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “The PURE Act will give healthcare providers the tools they need to offer more flexible and timely care to improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and ultimately lower healthcare costs for both patients and taxpayers.”

“Portable ultrasounds play a critical role in diagnosing potentially life-threatening conditions,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By ensuring providers can be reimbursed for the transportation and set up of these exams, our legislation would help seniors in rural areas or living with disabilities receive timelier and more effective care.”

“Our seniors deserve access to convenient and medically appropriate healthcare services, regardless of where they reside,” said Rep. Schneider. “I am proud to introduce the PURE Act to modernize our health care system and promote inclusive access to diagnostic services for individuals who require portable ultrasounds."

“I am proud to support the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2024, which ensures that seniors, especially those in rural areas, have access to critical healthcare services like ultrasound technology,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “This bill levels the playing field for Medicare patients and increases access to x-ray, ultrasound, and EKG screenings to make sure beneficiaries get the at-home care they need, no matter where they live. I thank Rep. Van Duyne for her leadership.”

“When patients need lifesaving ultrasound services but can’t reach a hospital, they’re often left without other options. The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act closes that gap by enabling portable ultrasounds to reach patients directly at their bedsides, allowing for rapid diagnosis of serious conditions like blood clots, heart failure, and abdominal disease,” said Rep. Trahan. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation leverages cutting-edge portable ultrasound technology to make health care more accessible and affordable for those in our communities who need it most.”

This bill is supported by the American Portable Diagnostics Association (APDA) and ADVION:

“APDA applauds Sen. Cornyn, Sen. Hassan, Rep. Van Duyne, Rep. Schneider, Rep. Miller-Meeks and Rep. Trahan for their bipartisan leadership to improve and expand access to portable ultrasound exams while lowering the cost of care for patients,” said Tamara Schwartz, Chairman of the American Portable Diagnostics Association (APDA). “The PURE Act will help ensure our members can continue to meet the growing demand across the country for portable diagnostic services to allow seniors and our most vulnerable to receive the treatment they need in the comfort of their own homes.” 

“For many Medicare beneficiaries in nursing facilities, traveling to a hospital or imaging center for an ultrasound is risky, especially for those dealing with mobility limitations or chronic conditions,” said Cynthia Morton, CEO of ADVION. “The PURE Act removes this barrier by ensuring portable ultrasound services can reach patients where they are, providing the physician with timely and critical diagnostic care without unnecessary and costly hospital visits. This legislation is a commonsense step toward making healthcare more accessible, reducing disruptions and costs, and improving outcomes for our nation’s seniors.”

BACKGROUND: 
The legislation aims to recognize portable ultrasound procedures and provide the same transportation reimbursement that Medicare currently allows for portable x-ray services. Advances in technology have made portable ultrasound machines more compact and lightweight with improved imaging capabilities. This has led to an increased demand for these high-quality imaging services to be administered at the bedside enabling the rapid diagnosis of patients for a range of acute and chronic conditions, including blood clots, heart failure, or abdominal disease. Yet, outdated Medicare policy has not kept pace to allow providers of portable diagnostic services to receive reimbursement for ultrasound procedures.

Click HERE for bill text.

###