Concerns over reimbursement continue to weigh heavily on the minds of radiology administrators, according to the latest numbers from the Medical Imaging Confidence Index (MICI). Administrators surveyed for the index's first quarter expressed lower optimism that they would be adequately reimbursed by Medicare.
The forward-looking index surveyed 178 imaging directors and hospital managers, asking their opinions of five key trends typically encountered by radiology administrators. The interviews were conducted in the first quarter of 2014.
MICI gathered survey participants from across the U.S., with 10% based in the Pacific region, 8% in the Mountain region, 10% in the West North Central region, 20% in the East North Central region, 15% in the Mid-Atlantic region, 19% in the South Atlantic region, 8% in the East South Central region, and 9% in the West South Central region.
Participants were asked to rate their optimism about five topics, and a single composite score including all five categories was also tabulated. Scores range from 0 to 200 and can be interpreted as follows:
- < 50 = extremely low confidence
- 50 to 69 = very low confidence
- 70 to 89 = low confidence
- 90 to 110 = an ambivalent score (neutral)
- 111 to 130 = high confidence
- 131 to 150 = very high confidence
- > 150 = extremely high confidence
The mean score of 57 regarding confidence in receiving adequate reimbursement from Medicare for diagnostic and interventional imaging was a new low for the MICI survey.
Optimism regarding growth in diagnostic and interventional imaging also decreased to a mean score of 92, while the overall index composite score fell to 91.
Areas that showed gains included confidence that imaging facilities will have access to capital, with a mean score of 79, and whether sites will grow as profit centers, with a mean score of 113.
