H.R. 5737House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

ROOT Act

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify data collection requirements for appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services, and for other purposes.

Also known as Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM UTC

The ROOT Act amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to change how data are collected and reported for appropriate‑use criteria of certain imaging services. It requires ordering doctors to use a qualified clinical decision‑support tool when ordering these services and sets up a system for reporting that data to the Secretary. The bill also creates a “low compliant” classification for doctors who frequently bypass the tool, defines how compliance is measured, and includes exemptions for specific preventive imaging, clinical trials, and small or rural practices. Finally, it directs periodic studies and possible policy adjustments based on the findings.

Key Provisions

Eliminates the need for a certification or documentation from the ordering professional and adds a new reporting requirement that, starting Jan 1 2026, the mechanism must send specific data to the Secretary.
Requires that ordering professionals consult a qualified clinical decision support mechanism when ordering applicable imaging services, and that the mechanism report its data to the Secretary as directed.
Creates a new “low compliant” category for ordering professionals whose compliance rate (the percentage of orders that used the decision‑support mechanism) falls below a threshold set by the Secretary.
Defines how the compliance rate is calculated and excludes orders that are exempt (see below) from the total count.
Adds exemptions for certain imaging services, including mammography, lung‑cancer CT screening, CT colonography, other preventive or screening imaging the Secretary deems appropriate, as well as orders placed for clinical trials, small or rural practices, and other specified cases.
Mandates that the furnishing professional include the ordering professional’s National Provider Identifier on the claim for services paid under the applicable payment system.
Requires the Secretary to issue guidance on how decision‑support mechanisms should report data and to conduct a study every five years (starting by Jan 1 2031) on low‑compliant professionals and imaging utilization, with possible recommendations for prior authorization or payment adjustments.
Specifies that the Secretary should largely follow specialty society approaches when setting appropriate‑use criteria and qualifying decision‑support mechanisms.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

October 10, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 10, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Energy and Commerce Committee

October 10, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 10, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5737

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 10, 2025

Mrs. Harshbarger (for herself and Mr. Moore of Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify data collection requirements for appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission Act or the ROOT Act.

Modification of appropriate use criteria data collection for applicable imaging services

(a)

In general

Section 1834(q) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(q)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3)(B)(ii)—

(A)

in subclause (IV), by striking generates and provides to the ordering professional a certification or documentation that; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subclause:

(VIII)

Beginning January 1, 2026, the mechanism provides to the Secretary—

(aa)

the information described in subclauses (III) and (IV);

(bb)

the information described in paragraph (4)(B); and

(cc)

such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, at such time, and in such form and manner, as the Secretary may specify.

;

(2)

in paragraph (4)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:

(ii)

beginning January 1, 2026, comply with such requirements as the Secretary may establish.

;

(B)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

in the heading, by striking furnishing professional and inserting qualified clinical decision support mechanism;

(ii)

in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(I)

by striking with January 1, 2017 and inserting January 1, 2026; and

(II)

by striking payment for such service may only be made if the claim for the service includes and inserting the qualified decision support mechanism shall maintain and report to the Secretary under subparagraph (F); and

(iii)

in clause (iii), by striking (if different from the furnishing professional);

(C)

in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the following new clauses:

(iv)

Clinical trials

An applicable imaging service that is ordered for an individual as part of a clinical trial.

(v)

Small and rural practices

An applicable imaging service ordered by an ordering professional practicing in a small practice (consisting of 15 or fewer ordering professionals), or a practice in a health professional shortage area (as designated under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) located in a rural area.

(vi)

Specified exemptions

The following types of applicable imaging services:

(I)

A mammography.

(II)

A lung cancer screening performed using computed tomography.

(III)

A colonography performed using computed tomography.

(IV)

Such other preventive or screening imaging services as the Secretary determines appropriate.

;

(D)

in subparagraph (D), by adding at the end the following new clause:

(iv)

Any other payment system determined appropriate by the Secretary.

; and

(E)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(E)

Furnishing professional requirement

Beginning January 1, 2026, with respect to an applicable imaging service furnished in an applicable setting and paid for under an applicable payment system (as defined in subparagraph (D)), the furnishing professional shall include the national provider identifier of the ordering professional (if different from the furnishing professional) on the claim for the service.

(F)

Reporting requirements

The Secretary shall provide, through guidance or rulemaking, information on appropriate ways that each qualified clinical decision support mechanism may report the information maintained under subparagraph (B) to the Secretary to support the Secretary in implementing paragraphs (5) and (6).

;

(3)

in paragraph (5)—

(A)

in the heading, by striking outlier and inserting low compliant;

(B)

by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

With respect to applicable imaging services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall determine on an annual basis the total number of ordering professionals who are designated as low compliant ordering professionals under subparagraph (B).

(B)

Low compliant ordering professionals

The Secretary shall designate ordering professionals with a compliance rate (as determined under subparagraph (D)) lower than an amount determined by the Secretary as low compliant ordering professionals.

;

(C)

in paragraph (C), by striking outlier and inserting low compliant;

(D)

by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:

(D)

Determination of compliance rate

(i)

In general

(I)

Compliance rates

For applicable imaging services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall determine a compliance rate (as defined in clause (ii)) for each ordering professional for a period specified by the Secretary.

(II)

Use of data

In determining a compliance rate for an ordering professional under subclause (I), the Secretary shall use data made available to the Secretary by qualified clinical decision support mechanisms published in the list under paragraph (3)(C) that were consulted by the ordering professional for the period specified by the Secretary under subclause (I).

(ii)

Definition of compliance rate

(I)

In general

In this subparagraph, the term compliance rate means, with respect to the requirement that an ordering professional consult with a qualified decision support mechanism when ordering an applicable imaging service under paragraph (4)(A)(i), the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of—

(aa)

the number of claims for orders for an applicable imaging service from such ordering professional during the period specified by the Secretary under clause (i)(I) that provided the qualified decision support mechanism consulted by such ordering professional; and

(bb)

the total number of orders for an applicable imaging service from such ordering professional during such period.

(II)

Exclusion of excepted orders

In calculating the compliance rate for an ordering professional under subclause (I), the Secretary shall exclude from the total number of orders in item (bb) of such subclause any order for an applicable imaging service described in paragraph (4)(C).

; and

(E)

in subparagraph (E), by striking outlier and inserting low compliant;

(4)

by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:

(6)

Study and report on low compliant ordering professionals and utilization of applicable imaging services

(A)

In general

Not later than January 1, 2031, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a study regarding the compliance rates calculated under paragraph (5) and submit a report to Congress that—

(i)

discusses—

(I)

such rates and compliance with this subsection;

(II)

the impact this subsection has on the utilization of applicable imaging services; and

(III)

potential mechanisms for improving compliance with this subsection, including—

(aa)

prior authorization for applicable imaging services ordered by low compliant ordering professionals;

(bb)

any payment adjustment related to the services, or a subset of services, that the Secretary may designate under the fee schedule under section 1848; or

(cc)

other mechanisms determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

(ii)

proposes alternative compliance rate thresholds for low compliant ordering professionals for purposes of paragraph (5)(B).

; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(8)

Specialty society endorsement

In specifying applicable appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services under paragraph (2) and qualified clinical decision support mechanisms under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall substantially adhere to the approach described in section 414.94 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2023).

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2026.