September 1, 2009 - After the DRA took effect, office MRI volume dropped among radiologists but increased among nonradiologist physicians (NRPs), and payments for MRI to both dropped, but the percentage decrease to radiologists was greater, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR).

The researchers also found that office CT volume increased slightly among radiologists but increased much more among NRPs on a percentage basis. Payments for CT imaging to radiologists dropped, yet increased to NRPs.

Authors of the study, The Disproportionate Effects of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on Radiologists' Private Office MRI and CT Practices Compared With Those of Other Physicians, set out to compare the effects of the DRA on the in-office MRI and CT practices of radiologists and NRPs.

Since the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) sharply reduced technical component payments for private office magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) imaging, NRPs have been able to make up for revenue shortfalls by self-referring more examinations, while radiologists have no control over referrals.
The nationwide Medicare Part B databases for 2002 to 2007 were studied. All MRI and CT codes were selected. Using Medicare physician specialty and place-of-service codes, examinations performed in private offices by radiologists were identified and compared with those performed by NRPs. Trends in procedure volume and payments were studied. The pre-DRA compound annual growth rates for 2002 to 2006 and the post-DRA one-year rates for 2007 are reported.
Results

For MRI, radiologists' private office volume increased by 8.4 percent yearly from 2002 to 2006 but then dropped by 2.0 percent in 2007. Nonradiologist physicians' office volume increased by 24.8 percent yearly, then increased by another 7.6 percent in 2007. Office MRI payments to radiologists increased by 11.2 percent yearly from 2002 to 2006 but then dropped by 30.1 percent in 2007. Nonradiologist physicians' office MRI payments increased by 25.7 percent yearly, then dropped by 23.5 percent in 2007. For CT imaging, radiologists' private office volume increased by 11.2 percent yearly from 2002 to 2006 but then increased by only 2.9 percent in 2007. Nonradiologist physicians' office volume increased by 31.8 percent yearly, then increased by another 18.1 percent in 2007. Office CT payments to radiologists increased by 13.4 percent yearly from 2002 to 2006 but then dropped by 5.2 percent in 2007. Nonradiologist physicians' office CT payments increased by 34.9 percent yearly, then increased by another 8.3 percent in 2007.

The authors of the study concluded that these results suggest that NRPs may be able to ameliorate the effects of the DRA by increasing self-referral, and these trends are of concern and should be scrutinized in future years.

Reference: Levin, David C. et al. The Disproportionate Effects of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on Radiologists' Private Office MRI and CT Practices Compared With Those of Other Physicians, Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR).Volume 6, Issue 9, Pages 620-625 (September 2009).

For more information: www.jacr.org


Related Content

News | Computed Tomography (CT)

At the annual AHRA (American Healthcare Radiology Administrators) conference in Orlando, Florida, Bayer announced an ...

Time August 09, 2024
arrow
Videos | Radiology Business

Find actionable insights to achieve sustainability and savings in radiology in this newest of ITN’s “One on One” video ...

Time July 30, 2024
arrow
News | Radiology Business

July 25, 2024 — Immunis, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech developing groundbreaking secretome therapeutics for age and ...

Time July 25, 2024
arrow
News | Radiopharmaceuticals and Tracers

July 24, 2024 — Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ...

Time July 24, 2024
arrow
News | RSNA

July 23, 2024 — Professional registration is open for RSNA 2024, the world’s largest radiology forum. This year’s theme ...

Time July 23, 2024
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

July 23, 2024 — Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that an artificial intelligence (AI) model ...

Time July 23, 2024
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

July 22, 2024 — Healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) systems provider, Qure.ai, has announced its receipt of a Class ...

Time July 22, 2024
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

July 17, 2024 — Hyperfine, a groundbreaking medical device company that has redefined brain imaging with the world’s ...

Time July 17, 2024
arrow
News | PET-CT

July 16, 2024 — A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on June 20, 2024, titled, “Comparison of ...

Time July 16, 2024
arrow
News | Prostate Cancer

July 11, 2024 — GE HealthCare’s MIM Software, a global provider of medical imaging analysis and artificial intelligence ...

Time July 11, 2024
arrow
Subscribe Now