Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The healthcare reform bill under debate in the U.S. Congress includes a number of provisions affecting radiology: The most worrisome of these to radiologists is a change in the equipment utilization factor from 50% to 75%.
Does that 75% figure really represent how often imaging equipment is in use at the average radiology department or imaging center? Not according to imaging industry consultant Ed Eichhorn, who offers an analysis in our Imaging Center Digital Community of what he believes are methodological flaws in the data being used to justify the higher rate.
The 75% utilization factor was recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) based on a survey conducted in 2006. But the way some of the questions in that survey were phrased could have led to confusion on the part of those who filled out the survey -- and to data that do not reflect real-world imaging operations.
Learn more about Mr. Eichhorn's analysis by clicking here.
In other news, we're featuring coverage of this week's American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) meeting in Las Vegas, where associate editor Kate Madden Yee is on hand. Her first story covers the important topic of infection control in imaging facilities.
It's a subject that's getting renewed attention in recent months, with new guidelines, rules, and even penalties for facilities that experience healthcare-associated infections. Fortunately, it's relatively simple to implement effective infection control practices -- find out how by clicking here, and check back for more AHRA coverage in the Imaging Center Digital Community at centers.auntminnie.com.
