Imaging Managers Weigh in on Health Reform

August 8, 2013

Radiology managers at hospitals and imaging centers are concerned about declining reimbursement from the Affordable Care Act and are monitoring the law closely.

How are hospitals and imaging centers reacting to the Affordable Care Act? To find out, we polled medical imaging managers at hospitals and imaging centers represented on The MarkeTech Group's imagePRO panel. The panel accurately represents the U.S. hospital market by bedsize and geographic areas.We wanted to know if they are participating in accountable care organizations, how concerned they are about reimbursement cuts and what steps they are taking to prepare for health reform’s changes.

Only about a quarter of those polled were participating in an alternative reimbursement model, such as an accountable care organization. Of those that do, most reported mixed results. Forty-five percent reported that organization leadership is researching the options and considering the models.

Nearly every organization is concerned about reimbursement cuts related to the Affordable Care Act, and more than half (54 percent) reported being “very concerned.”

When it comes to taking steps to address the impending changes from health reform, about half of the institutions polled are continuing to research the law and watch for the latest developments. Only 16 percent have set up cross-departmental committees, and 10 percent reported doing nothing yet.