Radiology benefits management (RBM) companies are helping the United Auto Workers (UAW) Retiree Medical Benefits Trust to lower its imaging costs, according to an article on Sunday in Crain's Detroit Business.
According to the report, the trust's four health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan have begun using companies to manage physician ordering of imaging tests. CareCore National will handle prior authorization in a pilot project in Indiana and northern Ohio for MRI and PET scans, and the trust could also use CareCore to review radiology use in other states.
Meanwhile, Blue Cross employs American Imaging Management for trust members in Michigan, and Blue Care Network utilizes CareCore to precertify nonemergency scans in outpatient offices, the report stated.
The trust said that while it's saving money from these efforts to manage imaging expenses, it's too soon to identify annual savings.
