| |
 |
| Welcome to imagingBiz.com |
We are an information service of The Imaging Center Institute. Our objective is to provide you with the information you need to achieve excellence as an imaging center operation. Check us out monthly.
SUBSCRIBE NOW |
|
|
| |
| Congress Blindsides Radiology, Votes to Cap PFS Technical Reimbursement at HOPPS Rates |
WASHINGTON, DC — Taking the imaging world by complete surprise, the Senate voted with the House on Wednesday, December 21, to equalize technical component reimbursement rates paid under the Physician Fee Schedule with those paid for under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System beginning in 2007, dealing the freestanding imaging center world an estimated $8.1 billion blow over 10 years. That figure includes the previously announced cuts for MRI and CT contiguous body part imaging: 25% in 2006 and a proposed additional 25% in 2007. The bill now returns to the House for a final vote because of a procedural change in the Senate
READ THE FULL STORY IN LEGISLATIVE REPORT >> |
| |
| If One is Good, Two is Better |
The number of multi-facility diagnostic imaging center chains in America continued its precipitous rise in 2005, according to the latest Diagnostic Imaging Center Market Report from Verispan. The research company identified 687 diagnostic imaging center chains that owned, managed, or leased a total 3,818 imaging centers as of August 2005. The number of chains increased by 93% to 687 since 2003, indicating that center owners are looking for the efficiencies gained by multiple site operations. The number of centers that chains controlled jumped 53% to a total of 3,818 since 2003.
 |
| Reprinted with permission, Verispan LLC. |
The greatest number of imaging center chains (260) own three to four centers, encompassing 23% (885) of all chain-owned, leased, or managed centers. The smallest number of imaging center chains (62) own 11 or more centers, incorporating 39% (1,472) of all chain-controlled centers. Another 24% of imaging center chains (165) owned/managed /leased five to 10 centers; and 29% (200) owned just two centers.
A closer look at the top 25 diagnostic imaging center chains indicates that there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to outpatient imaging centers. All of the top five chains, with the exception of MedQuest Associates, Alpharetta, Ga, which lead the pack with 96 centers, pruned their numbers. HealthSouth Corp (88), Birmingham, Al, and Radiologix, Inc (78), Dallas, Tx, both downsized, together offloading 53 centers. Insight Health Services Corp, Lake Forest, Calif (85), and HCA, Nashville, Tenn (56), reduced their holdings by 8 and 3 respectively. MedQuest picked up 11 centers in 2005.
For information on how to obtain the complete report go to
www.verispan.com. |
| |
| Under the Radar |
As a growing percentage of outpatient imaging shifts to the freestanding and office-based settings, so goes the number of outpatient imaging centers: the Verispan report identified 5,750 in 2005, up 5.7% from the year before. However, the same report noted a slight decrease in the average number of imaging procedures performed per center suggesting that the competitive arena is tightening. Aside from adequate capitalization, the single-most important ingredient for imaging center success is access to payor panels, according to one of the entrepreneurs interviewed in The Imaging Center Entrepreneurs.
| |
“The days of opening a center and knocking on the payor’s door to announce that you’ve arrived and are ready to do business are over,” says Kyle. “In fact, in some markets where there’s an oversaturation of providers, payors have closed their panels to newcomers. You need to understand before you break ground on your proposed center whether these panels are accessible.” |
|
| |
— Frank Kyle, president and CEO
Outpatient Imaging Affiliates LLC, Nashville, TN |
|
|
| |
| Hospital Push Back |
| Radiology groups and entrepreneurs in the freestanding imaging center space can expect some push back from hospitals that have tired of losing market share to freestanding imaging centers. These challenges can range from the downright nasty (see Court Date Set in Oregon Antitrust Lawsuit) to the creatively sublime. For a closer look at one of the more ingenious hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, see the profile of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center, Los Angeles. |
| |
| Related Reading |
Providence, RI: Academics Get Smart
A Model CON Collaboration
The Price of Ownership |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
| |
March on the Hill |
|
| |
Join the National Coalition for Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services for a two-day lobbying effort on behalf of outpatient imaging, April 17-18, in Washington, DC.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Claims Processing Overhaul |
|
| |
CMS replaces the use of Unique Physician Identification Numbers in the claims processing system with National Provider Identifiers on May 23, 2007. Get an early start.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
 |
| |
Getting Paid for PET |
|
| |
Registered National Oncologic PET Facilities can bill Medicare for unapproved PET indications with timely contribution of patient data to a national database.
READ MORE >> |
|
| |
|
|
 |
| |
Single Server Web RIS/PACS |
|
| |
AMICAS® introduces Office SolutionsTM a suite of ambulatory web-based RIS/PACS tools aimed at optimizing filmless imaging and workflow.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Color DICOM Printer |
|
| |
Sony debuts the UP-D77MD color dye-sublimation DICOM compatible imager with 300-dpi letter size output for nuclear, PET-CT and 3D CT.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Small Full-Featured CR System |
|
| |
FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA offers FCR Carbon, a full-featured CR system with a 2.41 sq-ft footprint.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Versatile High Field MRI |
|
| |
Hitachi Medical Systems introduces the Echelon™ 1.5T scanner loaded with a full range of clinical and vascular imaging software and reconstruction tools.
READ MORE>> |
|
| |
|
|
|
