Medicaid reimbursement, cost-saving, and radiologist recruitment issues are contributing to a drastic reduction of interventional radiology services in Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, and surrounding communities.
The state of interventional radiology services in this rural area of Alabama was discussed at the Statewide Trauma and Health System Advisory Council this week. James Corder, MD, a surgeon at DCH Regional Medical Center, told the council that interventional radiology services underwent a "drastic reduction" from 24/7 coverage to during-the-week coverage as the "new normal," Alabama Daily News reported.
Recruitment, a nationwide shortage of radiologists, and after-hours utilization contributed to the decision, according to Jackie Jones, assistant radiology director at DCH, who confirmed for the Alabama Daily News that interventional radiology service changes were effective as of June 1 and are intended to maximize hospital resources.
Others quoted by the Alabama Daily News report cited Medicaid reimbursement as a factor. Alabama is among 10 states that have not opted into Medicaid expansion, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), although the American College of Radiology (ACR) has characterized the overall situation with Medicaid as "dire."
"Many states are severely deficient in their Medicaid reimbursement rates for professional fees. This was seen even among states with the highest rates of Medicaid enrollment," an ACR Bulletin from last year stated. The bulletin was based on a Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute 2023 analysis of Medicaid reimbursement rates across the U.S. at the time.
The ACR has urged state and federal governments to find a way to narrow what is considered to be a "massive gap" between Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to improve access to care rather than just access to insurance.
"Although states do receive funding from the federal government to cover a majority of their Medicaid expenditures -- and particularly so after the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act -- Medicaid is ultimately a state-run program, and states determine reimbursement for specific services," the ACR stated in its bulletin.
