Radiology Managers Still Have Low Confidence in Reimbursement Rates

November 9, 2011

Medical imaging managers reported low confidence that reimbursement rates will improve and that funding for capital purchase for equipment and IT will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011 (October to December).

The latest installment of the Medical Imaging Confidence Index (MICI), co-developed by The MarkeTech Group LLC and AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management, shows a continuing trend in managers’ outlook on the market.

The index reveals results from an online survey of 153 managers of radiology departments meant to assess their confidence in market conditions for the current quarter.
Here are the results for fourth quarter of 2011:

Topic

Score

Mean	Interpretation
Will grow monthly volume in diagnostic and interventional radiology	107	Neutral
Will receive adequate reimbursement from Medicare for diagnostic and interventional imaging	62	Very low confidence
Internal operating and staff costs will remain constant	129	High confidence
Will have access to capital for imaging equipment and IT needs	86	Neutral
Will maintain/grow as a profit center	124	High confidence
Composite score across all areas	100	Neutral

Check out results from the first quarter, second quarter, and third quarter.

Here's a look at the full four quarters:

How does it work? Check out the Medical Imaging Confidence Index FAQs.

What do you think?

Medical Imaging Confidence Index (MICI) was co-developed by AHRA:The Association for Medical Imaging Management and The MarkeTech Group, owner of the imagePRO panel, launched in 2008. MICI data rely on the feedback of a statistical cohort of respondents from the imagePRO panel that accurately represent the US market hospital market by bedsize and geographic areas.