Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Stop the presses: A new study published this month indicates that nonradiologist physicians who perform imaging procedures in their own offices or refer to physicians in the same specialty have higher rates of imaging utilization than physicians who refer patients to radiologists.
This startling conclusion comes from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who examined insurance claims data over four years starting in 1999. They found that self-referring docs had imaging utilization rates that in some cases were more than twice as high as those who referred out. The rate soared to more than three times as high in some cases, when the researchers controlled for factors like patient age and comorbidities.
Kidding aside, the question is whether data like this will have an impact on efforts to separate the wheat (radiologist-based reads) from the chaff (physician self-referral) in controlling imaging utilization. This question was beyond the purview of the study, but you can draw your own conclusions by reading staff writer Kate Madden Yee's article, available here.
Many industry observers have viewed the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 as a very blunt axe aimed at curbing self-referral, but unfortunately it's taking a chunk out of radiologist-run imaging centers as well. In this article, our friends at MRI-Planning.com explain why they believe that MRI will survive the DRA, and even thrive over the long term. Find out why by clicking here.
Finally, get the behind-the-scenes scoop on the recent decision to add regulation of stereotactic breast biopsy to the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). While radiologists came out in favor of the ruling, it was opposed by surgeons and industry representatives. See how it all sorted out by clicking here.
You'll find these stories and more in our Imaging Center Digital Community, at centers.auntminnie.com.
