Provider-based Restructuring: Approach With Caution

October 11, 2010 | Deal Scan

Freestanding imaging has come under fire in recent years, with a series of Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reimbursement cuts decimating revenue. Hospital-based imaging, on the other hand, has not absorbed as much impact, a reflection of the aligned-care model promoted by President Obama during the development and passage of... Read More »

Users’ Guide: Due Diligence for Acquisitions

September 15, 2010 | Deal Scan

While there are many motivations to pursue an acquisition candidate, all acquirers share a common goal: increasing their net worth. The buyer evaluates opportunities to select acquisitions where the present value of the future economic benefits received is most likely to be greater than the purchase price. The goal... Read More »

The Top 20 Imaging-center Chains

September 03, 2010 | Feature

It seems clear that the number of US imaging centers has stopped expanding, and that imaging-center chains are no longer as eager to snap up as many centers as possible. This is not bad news, however. Procedural volumes per imaging center are growing—so the combination of greater demand... Read More »

Why Hospitals Buy Imaging Centers

August 15, 2010 | Deal Scan

While hospitals have always been significant players in the market for freestanding imaging centers, volume for hospitals purchasing all or part of the ownership interest in freestanding imaging centers has increased dramatically over the past few years. For hospitals already involved in joint ventures with physicians or entrepreneurial companies,... Read More »

Operating an Imaging-center Chain in the Postapocalyptic Era

July 07, 2010 | Priors

It began with the DRA, and ever since, CMS and Congress have set upon outpatient imaging like dogs on a bone, culminating in a new round of cuts to the technical component contained in the health-reform law. As a result, operations at many outpatient-imaging organizations came into acute focus... Read More »

The Reconsolidation of Imaging Centers

May 17, 2010 | Deal Scan

Significant market trends, over the past few years, have affected the competitive environment between hospitals and physician-owned freestanding imaging centers. The primary drivers of these trends are the relative weaknesses of a large number of freestanding imaging centers (caused by changes in reimbursement and... Read More »

Finding Value in Imaging-center Valuations

April 12, 2010 | Deal Scan

After unprecedented growth over the past two decades, freestanding imaging providers have found the past few years challenging. Increased regulatory oversight, negative reimbursement changes, tighter access to financing, and general business uncertainty have all taken their toll, and pessimism within the industry runs rampant. In response, some freestanding imaging... Read More »

Why Design Matters in Imaging

October 14, 2009 | A Better Mousetrap

It’s design that can make patients choose one imaging provider over another, according to Morris A. Stein, FAIA, FACHA. At the architecture/engineering firm HKS, Inc, Franklin, Tennessee, Stein is a principal. He presented “Designing the Imaging Experience: Understanding Today’s Requirements for Size, Technology, and Environments” on... Read More »

Do Market Opportunities Remain in Outpatient Imaging?

June 15, 2008 | Feature

Attractive opportunities remain in outpatient imaging, but they are highly market specific

In the post-Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) era, many current and would-be imaging providers are left with the same fundamental and related questions: Do market opportunities remain in outpatient imaging? If so, how do we assess... Read More »

Chris Winkle: Taking MedQuest In-House

May 15, 2008 | CXO Files

Last August, the news that Novant Health, Inc, Winston-Salem, NC, had offered $45 million (with an additional performance-based contingency of $35 million and the assumption of all outstanding debt) for Alpharetta, Ga-based MedQuest set the outpatient imaging world abuzz. The deal, which closed in November, represented what many considered a premium... Read More »

Imaging Center Valuation: What is Your Facility Worth?

March 01, 2008 | Feature

While recent imaging center deals indicate valuations all over the board, there are reasons why some centers command top dollar and others reflect fire-sale prices.

Easy answers to the question of imaging center valuation abound, but are they the right answers? Los Angeles-based RadNet’s market value... Read More »

How Managed Care Targets Imaging Centers—and How to Fight Back

February 15, 2008 | Radiology Business Journal

With the cost of advanced imaging technology always on the rise and reimbursement continually declining, now, more than ever, it is crucial that imaging centers negotiate optimal managed care contracts. Unfortunately, managed care is currently targeting imaging centers, owing to concerns about overutilization and escalating costs. How can imaging... Read More »

2007 Medical Imaging Symposium: Consolidation Underway

December 15, 2007 | Quality

Increased imaging center transactional activity, changes in health care regulatory law, increased scrutiny of self referral, and a full year under the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) conspired for a lively roundtable discussion at the 2007 Medical Imaging Symposium, sponsored by the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emory on November 27... Read More »

A Historic IDTF Summit at RSNA

December 15, 2007 | Utilization Metrics

While McCormick Place hummed with science and commerce across town, an unusual gathering of top outpatient imaging center executives met for breakfast on the sixth floor of Chicago’s University Club on Tuesday, November 20. Adding to the unparalleled nature of the event were the invited guest speakers for the... Read More »