5 Ways Radiology Technologists Reduce Patient Claustrophobia During MRI Scans

November 2, 2017
5 Ways Radiology Technologists Reduce Patient Claustrophobia During MRI Scans

 

Physicians strive to prevent distress in patients at every turn, but between 4 and 30 percent of patients who undergo MRI scans still report some level of anxiety. This isn't just a problem for patients; claustrophobic reactions can add considerable time to MRI scans, and can even adversely affect clinical findings through lower-quality images.

 

Even worse, according to a 2007 article published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, claustrophobic patients abort around 2 million MRI scans around the world every year. That deprives physicians of much-needed diagnostic images.  

 

The good news is that radiologists and technologists have developed interventions that can help to reduce claustrophobic reactions leading up to and during the procedure. As the first point of contact with patients, referring physicians can help lay the groundwork for a comfortable, anxiety-free patient experience by explaining how technologists can help alleviate their fears as soon as a patient expresses trepidation about the upcoming imaging exam.

 

To that effect, here are some of the latest techniques and strategies physicians can explain to nervous patients when they refer them for an MRI scan:

 

  1. The first step to treating anxiety is to recognize that it is occurring, and technologists are trained to look for signs of discomfort throughout the entire patient interaction.


 

A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine used both subjective self-reports before and after the procedure to gauge patient anxiety. The researchers also measured electro-physiological reactions during the entirety of the study scan. Their findings suggest that patients tend to be most anxious at the beginning of the scan, as they enter the MRI bore. Then their distress usually diminishes throughout the course of the procedure.

 

Physicians can explain that patients might feel nervous or unable to complete the MRI scan at the beginning, but that once they're through that portion of the scan, they'll likely begin to feel more calm.

 

However, patients should know that technologists are aware of the patient's experience, and are committed to keeping them comfortable. Imaging staff listen for verbal cues of patient anxiety — from an explicit admission of fear to a tremor in the voice — and will move quickly to help a patient through a moment of panic.

 

Technologists also watch their patients' eyes; people with claustrophobia might glance nervously at the scanner's bore or else avoid looking at the machinery altogether. Other indications of anxiety that technologists watch for include blanching or flushing in the patient's face; reluctance to follow simple instructions; sweating; or reports of tachycardia.

 

Physicians can help to prepare nervous patients for a better experience at the imaging center by assuring them that the imaging staff is aware of, and responsive to, any discomfort they might feel, and that they will pause the procedure at the patient's request.  

 

  1. Patients should know that the choice to go through with an MRI scan is entirely within their power; technologists will never try to coerce them to go through with a procedure they decide to delay.


 

Ultimately, health care choices belong to the patient. If patients express anxiety about an upcoming MRI scan, physicians can assure them of this fact. They can explain that the patient can choose to forego a scan at any point during the treatment process.

 

By including this comforting information in an explanation of the health benefits of the MR images, physicians both place the nexus of control within the patient while also gently encouraging them to undergo the procedure for the sake of their health.   

 

  1. Technologists provide detailed, thorough explanations to patients before entering the examination room.


 

Patients who know what to expect are less likely to become anxious. But technologists also use their pre-scan conversations to build healthy clinical relationships with patients. It's important for patients to know that their technologists are friendly, understanding, competent, and utterly trustworthy. Early conversations help to create this welcoming atmosphere.

 

Physicians can lay the groundwork for a successful imaging procedure by assuring their patients of the technologist's positive attributes. That's why it's so valuable for physicians to work with preferred imaging providers, building relationships and trust that they use to help reassure patients who might be uncomfortable with the procedure. It's all part of the patient-centered approach that Precise Imaging practices.

 

  1. There are multiple distraction-based interventions that have documented history of helping patients through their anxiety when they enter the scanner bore.


 

The authors of Pinpointing Moments of High Anxiety During an MRI Examination, the study from the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, seem hopeful about in-bore audiovisual systems that could distract patients during moments of anxiety — perhaps by allowing them to experience favorite TV shows or movies during the exam. The researchers also point to the use of prism glasses, which provide mirrors that allow patients to see outside of the bore, even as they lay flat for the procedure.

 

However, even something as simple as placing a soft cloth over the patient's eyes can help alleviate claustrophobia, writes technologist Thomas Rotunda, BSMI, BSHA, R.T.(R)(MR)(QM), in a recent edition of the journal Radiologic Technology.

 

This practice "is a basic way to combat claustrophobia because it helps patients ignore how close the inside of the scanner is to their faces, which likely makes them feel less confined," Rotunda writes.

 

  1. Newer scanning technology can be incredibly effective in reducing claustrophobia among patients.


 

One of the most powerful changes that imaging centers can make is to update their equipment, and that's been true for a decade. A seminal 2007 study in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging found that the latest MRI scanners, which reduced noise in-bore noise by 97 percent while also featuring a shorter bore than previous models, could reduce the incidence rate of claustrophobia by three times.

 

Physicians can reduce the expectation of anxiety in their patients by explaining the changes that have taken place since the old days of narrow bores and loud machines. Managing patient expectation will go a long way toward reducing claustrophobia and anxiety, which will lead to greater outcomes for patients.

 

Call Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223 to discuss advanced imaging equipment available and anxiety-reduction options, or to make a referral.

 

References:

 

Dewey M, Schink T, Dewey C. Claustrophobia During Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Cohort Study in Over 55,000 Patients. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. November 2007; 26(5):1322-1327. Available from: Wiley Online Library. Accessed November 2, 2017.

 

Melendez J, McCrank E. Anxiety-related reactions associated with magnetic resonance imaging examinations. JAMA, The Journal Of The American Medical Association [serial online]. 1993;(6):745. Available from: General OneFile, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 2, 2017.

 

Minde D, Klaming L, Weda H. Pinpointing Moments of High Anxiety During an MRI Examination. International Journal Of Behavioral Medicine [serial online]. June 2014;21(3):487-495. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 2, 2017.

 

Rotunda T. Reducing Occurrences of MR-related Claustrophobia in Patients With PTSD. Radiologic Technology [serial online]. September 2017;89(1):97-99. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 2, 2017.

 
sports medicine diagnostic imaging

Diagnostic Imaging for Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Specialists

October 2, 2017
Diagnostic Imaging for Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Specialists

 

Sports physicians and radiologists work together to quickly diagnose and treat the musculoskeletal injuries associated with frequent physical exertion. Still, sport and exercise medicine (SEM) remains a young specialty — it wasn't until 2005 that the United Kingdom's Department of Health granted SEM official specialty status.

 

So it's a good time to ask the question, both of sports physicians and radiologists themselves: How can this close working relationship improve as both specialties develop? What exactly do sports physicians need from their diagnostic imaging providers, and how can those providers tweak their processes to work better with SEM specialists and their patients?

 

Here are a few thoughts, culled from the extant literature:

  1. Help provide actionable images to help decide when it's safe for athletes to return to the field

  2. Assist with screening efforts and pre-play assessments;

  3. And they can provide "technical assistance with certain procedures.


 
Diagnostic imaging providers have much more to offer SEM physicians than confirmation of a given diagnosis.

 

 

According to I. McCurdie, FRCP, FFSEM(UK), writing in the British Journal of Radiology in 2012, "confirmation of accurate diagnosis" is only the first area in which radiologists can support sports physicians. They can also:

 

Sports physicians, in other words, need access to imaging providers who can respond to a wide range of needs. It makes sense for an SEM specialist to create relationships with established, trustworthy networks of imaging providers like Precise Imaging. With the range of expertise, simple systems for billing and referral, and an online portal just for physicians, Precise Imaging can respond to the immediate needs of SEM specialists and their patients.

 
Elite athletes often need incredibly quick turnaround on radiology reports.

 

When high-level athletes get injured, their managers want them back on the field as soon as it's safe. Team physicians typically don't have time to wait for a several-day turnaround to get their radiology reports.

 

Radiologists must be physically present, at imaging facilities or even on the field, in order to produce accurate reports a quickly as possible. Precise Imaging radiologists always work on-site at their facilities, and they average a turnaround of 24 hours, with available same-day referral service.

 

 
Sports physicians require access to multiple imaging modalities from the same provider.

 

 

"The range of pathologies and different tissues injured during sport and exercise determine the imaging modalities used," writes McCurdie. "With soft-tissue injuries being common, the opportunity to image with ultrasound during functional movements (often as an extension of the clinical examination) and avoid any exposure to irradiation makes this a very useful tool."

 

At the same time, MRI scans reveal soft-tissue injuries and have been successfully used to diagnose muscle damage accurately. Still, many physicians prefer to begin diagnostic imaging efforts with radiography.

 

"Plain X-ray should still generally be the first imaging technique," wrote John Orchard et. al in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2005. In that article, "The use of diagnostic imaging in sports medicine," Orchard and the other authors pointed out a few exceptions to the guideline of defaulting to X-ray.

 

"Exceptions include some forms of superficial tendinopathy, in which ultrasound may be more appropriate, and situations where radiation exposure is contraindicated, such as in a pregnant patient," they wrote.

 

Precise Imaging locations offer multiple imaging modalities, often with a full range of options for each. So patients with musculoskeletal injuries associated with sports and exercise can visit a single outpatient clinic for ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, and/or CT scans, all with simple, convenient scheduling.

 

 
While all imaging modalities have their uses in sports medicine, MRI scans are sometimes crucial for the diagnosis of one of the most common knee injuries in sports: the ACL tear.

 

 

Klass et al. point out that MRI scans are a central component to care for patients with chronic knee conditions. In their literature review, though, the authors found that MRI was increasingly paying dividends in cases of acute injury, particularly a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).  

Of course, physicians can often diagnose ACL injuries without the use of MRI technology. However, Klass and colleagues conclude, "It should be realised that significant advances are being made, and that there may be an increasing use of MRI in the management of the acutely injured knee which will include rupture of the ACL."

 
Precise Imaging for Patients of SEM Specialists

 

SEM physicians and their patients benefit from diagnostic imaging facilities that:   

 

  1. Are capable of multiple imaging modalities;

  2. Remain available for expanded hours, including weekends and evenings;

  3. Offer quick, simple scheduling, including same-day service and ride assistance;

  4. Employ radiologists with experience in musculoskeletal injuries associated with sports and exercise, who carry full board certification, and who work on-site at the place of testing;

  5. Are able to handle a variety of payment types, including insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, personal injury liens, and even low cash options for uninsured patients;

  6. Operate large networks of outpatient clinics, ensuring availability and flexible scheduling.


 

Patients under the care of an SEM specialist will benefit from the friendly and efficient service of the Precise Imaging team. If you're a referring physician and you're looking for a new imaging partner to help with a sports and exercise medicine practice, contact Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223 today.

 

References:

 

Cullen M, Batt M. Sport and exercise medicine in the United Kingdom comes of age. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2005;39(5):250-251. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2005.019307

 

Gibbs NJ, Cross T, Cameron M, Houang MT. The accuracy of MRI in predicting recovery and recurrence of acute grade one hamstring muscle strains within the same season in Australian Rules football players. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2004;7(2):248-258. [PubMed]  

 

Klass, D et al. MR imaging of acute anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The Knee. 2007;14(5):339-347. doi:10.1016/j.knee.2007.04.008

 

McCrory P. What is sports and exercise medicine? British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006;40(12):955-957. [PubMed]

 

McCurdie I. Imaging in sport and exercise medicine: “a sports physician’s outlook and needs.” The British Journal of Radiology. 2012;85(1016):1198-1200. doi:10.1259/bjr/14729770

 

Orchard, J, Read J, Anderson I(J)F. The use of diagnostic imaging in sports medicine. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2005;183(9):482-486. Available from: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2005/183/9/2-use-diagnostic-imaging-sports-medicine
No health Insurance

Diagnostic Imaging Referrals for Uninsured Patients

September 29, 2017
What should physicians do when they suspect a patient needs an expensive diagnostic imaging procedure, but they also know that patient lacks health insurance, or has an inadequate plan? How do they weigh financial considerations against crucial diagnostic information?

 

As physicians, you balance a huge number of variables in deciding which diagnostic imaging procedures to order for your patients. You must weigh radiation exposure versus probability of actionable images, for instance, or decide whether a patient needs an X-ray, an MRI, or both.

 

And like it or not, every decision a referring physician makes will have an impact on the patient's final bill — which becomes problematic, both ethically and medically, given the role financial stress plays in negative health outcomes such as depression.

 

Lack of Health Insurance and Frequency of Diagnostic Imaging


 

Here's what we do know, at least as of the 2012 publication of this study from the Journal of the American College of Radiology: Uninsured Americans received fewer imaging procedures in emergency departments than insured patients. In a sense, this is unsurprising; Americans without health insurance generally receive less health care overall.

 

What we don't know is what to do about it. Should we order less imaging for insured patients, or more for uninsured patients? We won't really know until we can measure the outcomes of uninsured patients who receive equal care. To do that, we must find a way to provide truly affordable diagnostic imaging for all patients. That's where Precise Imaging can help.  

 

How Physicians Can Reduce the Financial Impact of Imaging on Patients


 

The ideal situation would be for physicians to have access to imaging centers that offer a full and flexible range of payment options along with the highest-quality service, simple scheduling, and fast results. That's exactly the combination that Precise Imaging offers to referring physicians.

 

Precise Imaging operates 70+ locations with evening and weekend hours, so your patients can always find a time and a place that suits them. If transportation is a problem, Precise Imaging can send a car for free. And with same-day scheduling and a 24-hour average turnaround on reports, you'll have the information you need without delay.

 

But the real issue for uninsured patients is the financial burden. That's why Precise Imaging's experienced billing team is trained and authorized to handle an incredible variety of payment options. For personal injury cases, they can accept liens. If workers' compensation is involved, that's no problem.

 

Precise Imaging even offers special cash prices for uninsured or underinsured patients. Friendly billing staff can also work with payors to establish structured payment plans. These options can create powerful discounts for patients in need, and might be just the assurance that you need to order a procedure you're on the fence about.

 

Financial considerations shouldn't have any place in patient care, but, unfortunately, they are real, and must be considered. Next time you're weighing the options for an uninsured patient, remember that Precise Imaging can help. Call Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223 to learn more about cash prices for uninsured patients.    

 

References:

 

Moser, James and Kimberly Applegate. "Imaging and Insurance: Do the Uninsured Get Less Imaging in Emergency Departments?" JACR. Journal of the American College of Radiology, Jan. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2017.

 

Galea, Sandro et. al. "Urban Neighborhood Poverty and the Incidence of Depression in a Population-Based Cohort Study." ScienceDirect. Annals of Epidemiology, Mar. 2007. Web. 29 Sept. 2017.

 

Personal Injury Attorneys and Diagnostic Imaging: A Patient-Centered Approach

September 22, 2017
Personal injury cases often hinge on great diagnostic imaging, and attorneys can benefit from referring their patients to a provider with experience in the field. While injured patients are free to schedule an MRI or X-ray at a hospital or random imaging center, cases flow much more smoothly when attorneys and their clients choose providers that know how to best assist in the case, while providing excellent, patient-centered care. Here are a few reasons personal injury attorneys should stick to a single preferred provider for diagnostic imaging:

 
Patients might need to pay for diagnostic imaging with a personal injury lien.

 

Many medical providers aren't equipped to handle lien payments. When attorneys and clients agree on an imaging provider prior to injury, they can choose a company that has long years of experience handling personal injury cases, including lien payments — that is, a company like Precise Imaging.

 
Attorneys often need diagnostic imaging results quickly.

 

Hospitals sometimes experience lengthy delays before they can schedule a diagnostic imaging procedure. Then, when the procedure is complete, staff radiologists might take days to complete the radiology report. Meanwhile, case deadlines can come and go.

 

Precise Imaging offers same-day scheduling and quick turnaround times for reports. Radiologists file their reports within 48 hours of the procedure, and usually much sooner, often within just 24 hours.

Not all imaging centers are prepared for letters of protection.

 

For personal injury cases involving a letter of protection, it's important to choose an imaging provider that has experience with this legal tool. Precise Imaging has partnered with patients and their attorneys for thousands of personal injury cases, and accepts every type of remuneration, including workers' compensation, liens, and deferred payment based on a letter of protection.    

 
Attorneys can simplify client care with a preferred diagnostic imaging provider.

 

With Precise Imaging for personal injury cases, a single phone call gives attorneys everything they need to win in court. In fact, attorneys never need to pick up the phone to get help for their clients. A specialized attorney web portal provides images, payment information, and case details with full HIPAA compliance. It's available 24/7, and so is the IT support that ensures everything runs smoothly.

 

Clients will appreciate the friendly, professional service they receive at any of Precise Imaging's 70+ locations. They'll also love the simple scheduling, with evening and weekend appointments available. Attorneys, on the other hand, will find a streamlined approach that simplifies personal injury cases while providing medical details that win in court.

 

To learn more about Precise Imaging's commitment to assisting in personal injury cases, or to refer a client today, call 800.558.2223. You can also make an online referral here.

The Benefits of Large Imaging Networks vs. Small Independent Facilities

September 12, 2017
Precise Imaging operates more than 70 locations in California, Arizona, and Nevada. The size of this network provides benefits to referring doctors and patients alike.

 

Smaller, independent imaging facilities often can't produce the same advantages — they simply don't have the staff, the space, or the infrastructure. The advantages of a large-scale diagnostic imaging organization like Precise Imaging include:

 
More convenient scheduling. 

 

Precise Imaging locations are open late and on weekends, and they're distributed all over major metropolitan areas. This makes it easier and more convenient for patients to schedule an imaging appointment close to them, and at a time they prefer. Referring physicians can even ask for same-day service for cases in which time is of the essence.

 
Simplified billing.

 

Medical billing is complex enough. Rather than filing paperwork with many different small-time providers, choosing Precise Imaging gives medical providers a single contact point for all issues of billing. Precise Imaging offers a clear and streamlined billing system. It's so simple that it fits on a single page.

 
Dependability and consistency in radiology reports.  

 

All Precise Imaging radiologists carry board certification and operate in the United States. They work quickly and accurately to return detailed, actionable radiology reports to referring physicians, usually within 24 hours — or even faster for STAT orders.

 

These benefits help to explain why more than 150,000 patient and over 4,000 physicians and attorneys have chosen Precise Imaging over the past 20 years.

 
Multiple Referral Options and Quick, Easy Access to Radiology reports

 

At Precise Imaging, we strive to make the whole diagnostic process easier on physicians. In addition to the benefits listed above, Precise Imaging keeps all avenues of communication open for referring doctors.

 

Doctors may share a referral through fax, via telephone, or with our simple online form. You can even email us the referral.    

 

Once you've referred a patient, sign up for the online doctor's portal for real-time access to images and radiology reports. The portal is completely HIPAA-compliant so physicians and radiologists can easily share patient information — ultimately leading to quicker, more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes.

 

If you ever have trouble with the portal, enjoy qualified IT assistance any time of the day or night. Simply call us at 800-558-2223 for help with Precise Imaging digital tools.

 

If you're a patient, a physician, or an attorney working on a personal injury case (with or without a lien), call Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223 today. Our friendly scheduling staff are ready to help you find the ideal appointment for virtually any diagnostic imaging procedure.

Precise Imaging Accepts Medicare

July 21, 2017
Precise Imaging Accepts Medicare for Diagnostic Imaging Procedures

 

Refer your Medicare patients to Precise Imaging with full confidence — we accept Medicare payments for diagnostic imaging procedures.

 

When you order an MRI, CT an X-ray, your patients have a right to know if the procedure is covered under Medicare. With Precise Imaging, know that when patients ask about this coverage, the answer is always, "Yes."

 

Every physician encounters Medicare patients. The program is vast, as evidenced by these statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the AARP:

 

  • As of 2015, the last year for which data is available, more than 55 million Americans received Medicare benefits.



  • Medicare beneficiaries make up more than 15 percent of the total U.S. population.


 

  • The AARP estimates that the program will provide benefits for nearly 80 million Americans by 2030.


 

By knowing which facilities accept Medicare before referring patients, doctors can help to keep medical costs manageable. They can also save time during visits by eliminating last-minute research.

 

Make an online referral through our HIPAA-compliant form, or sign into the Physician's Web Portal to begin. Precise Imaging staff will take it from there. We obtain authorizations, work with your patient to schedule a convenient appointment, and communicate directly with insurers to arrange billing. All the physician has to do is make the referral and study the results.

 

For more information, or to refer a patient today, call Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223.

 

What Patients Should Know About Medicare and Diagnostic Imaging

 

Not all independent imaging centers accept Medicare payments. While the last thing you want to think about when you're injured is the medical bill, it pays to ask if any procedure is covered under the program.

 

Precise Imaging maintains ongoing relationships with most major insurers, including Medicare, to make payments hassle-free for all involved. Our staff handles the billing and subsequent paperwork, so patients don't have to navigate the complex world of health care spending on their own.

 

Whether you're a referring doctor or a patient with Medicare coverage, contact Precise Imaging to schedule a convenient, comfortable, and highly accurate imaging procedure.

 

Does Medicare Cover Your MRI, CT Scan, or X-Ray?

 

Medicare Part B covers a comprehensive range of "medically necessary services," as well as some preventative care. These services may include:

 

  • Diagnostic lab procedures, such as blood tests and biopsies.


 

  • Diagnostic imaging procedures, such as MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound scans.


 

  • Reusable medical equipment.


 

  • Some prescription drugs.


 

  • Mental health treatment, both inpatient and outpatient.


 

Diagnostic imaging procedures are generally considered "medically necessary" when a doctor orders them, so they are usually covered by Medicare. Everyone with Part B should be covered, as long as they choose an eligible provider.

 

All of Precise Imaging's 70+ locations accept Medicare, so call us at 800-558-2223 to discuss your case or to schedule an appointment today.
mri-facility

How Hospitals Determine the Price of an MRI—and Why Clinics Can Charge Less

July 12, 2017
How Hospitals Determine the Price of an MRI—and Why Clinics Can Charge Less

 

When your doctor orders an MRI, should you stay within the hospital system or find an independant imaging center?

 

If you want to pay less, you're better off with the latter.

 

You'd expect a similar procedure to have a similar cost, no matter who your provider is. In fact, the price of an MRI might vary wildly, even within the same small region — and even when funded by the same insurance plan. For instance, a 2014 report from medical-claim analysts at Change Healthcare found that the insurer's in-network price for an MRI ranged between $511 and $2,815.

 

Not much has changed since 2014. The latest figures from financial-planning site Bankrate report a general range of MRI costs between $400 and $3,500. That's a $3,100 spread for the exact same procedure.

 

"Imaging bills typically run two to three times higher at hospitals than at freestanding radiology centers," reports Money. But what's the rationale for this tremendous difference in price, especially since clinics often use the exact same equipment and radiologists as hospitals?   

 

To find out, we'll have to go a little deeper into the complex world of health care pricing for hospitals.

 

Calculating Prices for MRI Scans at Full-Service Hospitals: DRG Basics

 

While hospitals follow different pricing schedules, every operation works to ensure profitability of these things called diagnosis-related groups, or DRGs.

 

DRGs are specific codes covering treatment for common conditions. That is, they gather all the discrete medical interventions for a particular diagnosis into a single, calculable "product." They're important for hospital balance sheets because Medicare decides what it will pay for care according to each of these codes — and hospitals can mark up their prices from there.

 

For instance, if you were to have an appendectomy, the hospital might add the costs for your imaging, surgery, aftercare, and drug/equipment usage into a single cost under the assigned DRG code. If you were on Medicare, there would already be a pre-set price for the entire set of procedures. If an insurance company pays for the services, though — or an individual — hospitals determine their own rates for those DRGs. That's where things get even more complicated.

Estimating Radiology Department Costs in Order to Set Charges

The typical model that hospitals have used to figure out how much to charge for a given DRG service is called the ratio of cost-to-charge (RCC). The RCC figure divides the hospital's total costs by the amount they charge the payer. The resulting ratio describes the hospital's ability to turn a profit. The lower the RCC, the more profit for the hospital.

 

So, the RCC approach became the standard method used to figure out how much to charge patients. The problem is, while RCC calculations are very accurate and reliable for grouped charges, such as DRGs, they're notoriously off-base when it comes to individual services, such as those offered by radiology departments.

 

Forward-thinking hospitals slowly began to change their methods of determining charges, a process that inevitably begins with figuring out total costs per procedure. Here's an example of another approach, provided by David W. Young in the journal Healthcare Financial Management:

 

Young divides costs hospitals must pay for an MRI scan into three categories:

 

  1. Direct costs include the obvious hospital expenses; salaries for staff, medical supplies, and depreciation of machinery.


 

  1. Departmental costs cover the salaries of administrators.


 

  1. Allocated costs flow down from the hospital administration; they're comprised of the estimated value of maintenance and janitorial services for the radiology department.


 

Once administrators figure out these costs for an MRI scan, they add them together, then divide by the number of MRI scans in a given period; this gives them a total estimated cost for the procedure on its own.

 

Of course, if that cost should prove higher than Medicare, they will still only be paid the official price set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMM). That's one of the reasons some hospitals mark up their Medicare prices by up to 1,000 percent for insurance companies or cash payers; they argue they're making up for expenses left uncovered by government programs.  

 

MRI Scans: Determining Individual Charges from Cost Estimates

 

Once administrators calculate the cost of an MRI, all that's left is to apply the markup and start issuing bills. So what determines a hospital's markup over cost on an MRI, or any service for that matter?

 

Just about anything. Possibly nothing. It's the mystery at the heart of the U.S. health care system. Only two states, Maryland and West Virginia, set top rates for hospitals. Everywhere else, health care providers can charge whatever they want—and they do.

 

A 2015 study in the journal Health Affairs studied markups at U.S. hospitals. The average markup among most hospitals in the nation was 340 percent. Among the 50 hospitals with the highest markups, that number was over 1,000 percent. The hospital at the top of the list marked up procedures 1,260 times the CMM charge.

 

Radiology departments are particularly vulnerable to enormous markups. Brian Keigley, who founded the consumer group New Choice Health, told Money that "radiology is often subsidizing other service lines."

 

For instance, if an emergency department at a major metropolitan hospital loses money, administrators might raise the price on MRIs to make up the difference. This brings us to why freestanding imaging facilities can charge so much less per procedure.  

 

Keeping Costs Low at Medical Imaging Clinics

 

Hospitals can mark up their costs for an MRI as much as they want. There are no regulations to control medical pricing in most states, and being part of a hospital system keeps patients flowing regularly through the radiology department.

 

Ultimately, hospitals are sheltered from price-controlling market forces by obscure charges, patient vulnerability, intra-institutional referrals, and, often, non-profit status.  

 

Meanwhile, freestanding imaging clinics must compete with the facility down the street. There's a distinct incentive for Company A to offer low-price MRIs without sacrificing quality. Remember: They're also competing with hospitals, which usually get the first shot at any patient's business.

 

Plus, imaging clinics don't have to cover for underperforming departments. They provide MRIs and X-rays; their radiologists write reports; they do what they do and that's it. With a more focused business model, these companies are much more free to reduce margins in order to thrive through sheer patient volume.

 

The result is good for patients and their care. Clinics offer simpler, more flexible scheduling. They can focus on patient care rather than cope with the complexities of an enormous organization. They charge much, much less than hospitals for an MRI.

 

In short, it pays to do a little shopping around when your doctor orders an MRI. Whatever you do, don't march down the hall to the hospital radiology department without having a conversation about pricing.  

 

References:

 

Ashford, Kate. "What I Learned When I Asked How Much My MRI Would Cost." Forbes. Forbes Media LLC, 31 Oct. 2014. Web. 1 July 2017.   

Deleon, Maya. "Need an MRI? Here's what it will cost." Bankrate. Bankrate, LLC, 23 June 2017. Web. 1 July 2017.

 

Gengler, Amanda. "How to Get the Same Health Care at a Quarter of the Cost." Money. Time, Inc., 16 July 2014. Web. 1 July 2017.

 

Glover, Lacie. "Why Does an MRI Cost So Darn Much?" Money. Time, Inc., 16 July 2014. Web. 1 July 2017.  

Potter, Wendell. "Why Hospitals Mark Up Prices by 1,000 Percent." Newsweek. Newsweek, LLC, 15 June 2015. Web. 1 July 2017.     

Reinhardt, Uwe. "How Do Hospitals Get Paid? A Primer." NYTimes. The New York Times Company, 23 Jan 2009. Web. 1 July 2017.

 

Schwartz, M, DW Young and R Siegrist. "The ratio of costs to charges: how good a basis for estimating costs?" NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1996. Web. 1 July 2017.

 

Young, David W. "What Does an MRI Scan Cost?" Healthcare Financial Management, no. 11, 2015, p. 46. EBSCOhost, 1 July 2017.

 
personal-injury-lien

Personal Injury Liens and Medical Imaging: What to Know

July 5, 2017
Personal Injury Liens and Medical Imaging: What to Know

 

Personal injury claimants don't need health insurance or upfront cash to pay for medical imaging services. They can opt to cover their coverage with a medical lien instead.

 

If your injury was caused by another party, and you file a claim, medical liens offer a way to defer payment for medical expenses—including X-rays, MRI scans, and other imaging procedures—until after you've received your settlement. However, liens also legally require you to repay the entity that paid for the treatment in the first place, whether that's a health insurer, a workers' compensation fund, or even the hospital itself.   

 

Medical liens can get tricky, and you should discuss your own case with your lawyer before making any decisions. In the meantime, here are the basics of what you should know about personal injury liens and medical imaging:

 

  1. Lien-basis medical treatment will become a legal part of your case.  


 

Medical liens are legal structures that become part of the framework of a personal injury case. That means your lawyer can handle the payment as part of the claim, saving patients time and frustration dealing with unending medical bills.

 

  1. Not all medical imaging providers accept payment on a lien basis.


 

Health care professionals incur some risk when they agree to treat patients with a lien. After all, that patient could lose their case or not have sufficient funds to pay their medical bills satisfactorly. Therefore, some providers refuse to accept liens in lieu of upfront payment. Precise Imaging accepts personal injury liens and workers' compensation liens, and they work with patients and lawyers together to keep the process smooth and simple.  

 

  1. The lien payment may come out of your personal injury settlement.


 

You won't have to raid the checking account to pay a personal injury lien. The money comes straight out of your settlement, which should be adjusted to cover all of your medical bills, as well as other considerations, such lost wages and suffering.

 

  1. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a lower price before settling.


Because attorneys build relationships with medical care providers and insurance companies alike, they can often negotiate a discount rate for work done on a lien basis.

 

While the idea of a lien might seem intimidating at first, they enable absolutely everyone to receive the care they need. Claimants who don't have insurance or lots of savings can be devastated by the medical expenses associated with personal injury.

 

When doctors and lawyers work out payment on a lien basis, the party that's responsible for the injury ends up paying the medical bills. That's a fair and just way to resolve claims.

 

Medical imaging is a major step in the healing process, and it should be available to all. Thanks to personal injury liens, everyone has access to top-quality care without upfront payment. Call Precise Imaging at 800-558-2223 to learn more about friendly, effective care in personal injury cases involving a lien.