Membership: Benefits

To be a member of the Illinois Radiological Society, you must also become a member of the American College of Radiology. The benefits of membership in IRS build on the many benefits offered radiologists by the ACR.

The more tangible benefits include:

• the monthly ACR Bulletin

• Professional Self-Evaluation Series - syllabi for CME credit

• ACR Learning File and other educational programs on CD-ROM

• practice accreditation programs in radiation oncology, mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy and MRI

• interactive viewbox seminars

• resource materials on practice issues, including partnerships and hospital contracts, regulatory compliance, etc.

• substantial discounts on ACR publications

• ACR Professional Bureau - job listing services free of charge to members

• ACR Appropriateness Criteria

• ACR Standards

• Continuous Professional Improvement (CPI) Program for CME credit

• access to members-only, password-protected directory of ACR members nationwide

Just as important, but often the most unseen benefits, are ACR's efforts to maintain and advance radiology's place in medicine, by:

• articulating and defending the positions of radiology with testimony before the U.S. Congress and interaction with government agencies

• working closely with HCFA to optimize Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement levels for radiology services

• working closely with the FDA on issues related to the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 and new drug and medical devise approvals

• establishing radiology practice standards to ensure delivery of quality radiology services nationwide

• managing grants from the National Cancer Institute for the Patterns of Care Study, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network

• promoting radiology to managed care organizations and other third-party payers

• working with the AMA Relative Value Update Committee and the CPT Editorial Panel to assure proper reimbursement for radiological procedures.

For IRS members only:

• reduced registration fees for IRS's annual meeting

• access to a members-only, password-protected section of the IRS Web site which includes a directory of IRS members from both the Central Illinois and Chicago Divisions

• access to a discussion forum to exchange ideas, offer advice, ask questions and network with other IRS members

• representation on the local Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee

• input into state legislation affecting radiology and radiology departments

• input into the policy-making decisions of the IRS at the state level and the ACR at the national level.

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