University Nuclear and Diagnostics (UND) has unveiled a new Web-based calculator that determines the precise cost of nuclear stress tests.
With cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, the costs of care are high and must be carefully managed, according to UND.
Nuclear stress tests have historically cost somewhere between $350 and $700, depending on the facility. Now providers, including private practices, hospitals, imaging centers, and HMOs, are all finding themselves under increased pressure to control costs.
UND's online tool asks for five pieces of information from the user, then calculates a bottom-line cost per test. The company spent six months researching the various criteria and developing the proprietary calculator, which visitors can access free of charge.
Knowing the cost of every scan can help the provider operate more cost-effectively, UND said. The tool is available free of charge at www.nuclearstresstest.net.
