Medicare Mandates Reimbursement for Portable Ultrasound Setup Costs, Starting 2027

The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 is straightforward: it’s about making sure Medicare pays for portable ultrasound services the same way it already pays for portable X-ray services. If you’ve ever needed a diagnostic scan but couldn’t easily get to a clinic—maybe you’re recovering at home, or live far from a hospital—you know how crucial mobile imaging can be.

Leveling the Imaging Field

Right now, Medicare’s rules (specifically Section 1861(s)(3) of the Social Security Act) cover diagnostic X-ray tests, and they already pay providers separately for the hassle of transporting and setting up portable X-ray equipment. This bill updates that section to explicitly include diagnostic ultrasound tests as a covered service. More importantly, it mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish a separate payment for the transportation and setup of portable ultrasound equipment, mirroring the existing payment structure for portable X-rays. This change takes effect on January 1, 2027.

What This Means for Everyday Access

For providers, this is a big deal. Imagine you run a mobile diagnostic service. Before this bill, you got paid for the ultrasound scan itself, but the cost of driving the machine to a patient’s home or a nursing facility, setting it up, and breaking it down might not have been fully covered. That logistical cost makes it financially challenging to serve patients who need in-home care. By mandating this separate payment, the bill makes it more viable for companies to offer mobile ultrasound services. This means better access for patients in rural areas, those with mobility issues, or anyone who just needs a quick scan without a trip to the hospital.

The Regulatory Fine Print

To keep things consistent and prevent chaos, the bill directs the Secretary to set up rules for these portable ultrasound providers that are nearly identical to the existing rules for portable X-ray providers (found in subpart C of part 486 of title 42 in the Code of Federal Regulations). This is policy shorthand for saying: we’re not inventing a whole new regulatory system; we’re just slotting ultrasound into the existing, proven framework for mobile imaging. This clarity is good news, as it gives providers a clear roadmap for compliance and ensures quality standards are maintained.

The Cost of Convenience

While this bill is a clear win for access and equity in diagnostics, it’s important to note the financial impact. Any time Medicare mandates a new payment stream, it increases the program’s expenditures. The analysis points out a medium-level economic burden because these new mandatory payments for transport and setup will increase the overall cost to the Medicare program. For the average person, this doesn't directly change your pocketbook today, but it’s part of the ongoing conversation about Medicare’s long-term financial health. Essentially, we are trading increased program costs for increased patient access and convenience.