Medicare Bill Ensures Portable Ultrasound Transport Gets Paid Like X-Rays, Starting 2027

This bill, officially titled the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025, is pretty straightforward: it updates Medicare rules to ensure that bringing an ultrasound machine to a patient is treated and paid for the same way as bringing an X-ray machine. It’s all about leveling the playing field for diagnostic services delivered outside of a clinic or hospital.

The New Coverage: Making Ultrasounds Official

Right now, Medicare covers "diagnostic X-ray tests" under Section 1861(s)(3) of the Social Security Act. This bill simply adds "diagnostic ultrasound tests" to that list. Why does this matter? Because while portable ultrasounds are common, officially listing them ensures they are recognized as a standard, covered diagnostic service under Medicare. This clarity is crucial for providers and patients alike, removing any ambiguity about whether the service itself is covered.

Paying for the Trip: Equity on Wheels

The real meat of the bill is how it handles the logistics. Anyone who’s had a mobile service knows that the biggest hurdle is getting the equipment to the location. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services must create a separate payment system specifically for the cost of transporting and setting up portable ultrasound equipment. Crucially, that payment structure—the rates, the rules, the whole nine yards—must be identical to the system already used for portable X-ray services. This is a big win for equity. If a provider can get paid fairly for driving an X-ray machine to a nursing home, they should get paid the same for driving an ultrasound machine.

For providers, this means financial stability. If you run a mobile diagnostic service, knowing you’ll be reimbursed reliably for the transport and setup costs (not just the scan itself) makes offering services to homebound Medicare beneficiaries much more viable. For a patient who can’t easily travel—say, an elderly relative recovering from surgery at home—this means better access to necessary diagnostic imaging without the stress and expense of an ambulance ride to a hospital.

The Fine Print and the Timeline

This isn't an overnight change. The new rules and payment systems will apply to services provided on or after January 1, 2027. This gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) time to establish the required payment system and set the supplier rules, which the bill dictates must be similar to the rules currently governing portable X-ray suppliers (detailed in subpart C of part 486 of title 42 in the Code of Federal Regulations). While this bill is designed to be cost-neutral by mirroring existing X-ray payments, it will likely increase overall Medicare spending slightly because it expands the pool of services eligible for separate transport fees. However, that cost is balanced by the improved access and convenience for beneficiaries who need diagnostic services brought directly to them.