Dear Imaging Center Insider,
Up until recently, outpatient imaging was migrating from hospitals to freestanding imaging centers at an astounding rate. But with the advent of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, as well as further government cost-cutting measures for diagnostic imaging that have put the squeeze on independent centers, the tide may be turning -- and with a strong community reputation, brand awareness, and stable payor relationships, hospitals may be perfectly poised to catch the wave.
At the recent American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) annual meeting in Denver, W. Cannon King of Outpatient Imaging Affiliates in Nashville, TN, outlined how hospitals can recapture the outpatient imaging market. Staff writer Cynthia Keen reports on King's advice; click here for the story. As an AuntMinnie.com Imaging Center Insider, you can view the article before the rest of our members.
Also in the Imaging Center Digital Community, read about how insurance giant UnitedHealth Group has extended its deadline until the fourth quarter of 2009 for freestanding imaging facilities and physician offices to apply for accreditation to receive reimbursement. Click here to learn more.
In other news, check out why outpatient imaging services are expected to be in demand through 2013. Then find out how the Joint Commission has streamlined its ambulatory standards, and discover some surprising facts about CPT III codes for reimbursement. Finally, read about why radiology subspecialization is becoming more and more common.
As always, if you have a comment or report to share about any aspect of diagnostic imaging practice, management, administration, regulation, or financing, please contact me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
