Why Radiology Operations are Consolidating
VIDEO: What’s behind the imaging operations mergers and acquisitions? Brian Baker discusses the why and what to do about medical imaging consolidation.
Consolidation may be the name of the game in medical imaging today, but what’s really behind all the mergers and acquisitions?
Brian Baker, president of Regents Health Resources, offered up a few explanations, including the price disparity between how much outpatient providers and hospital providers get paid for the same services.
“MedPAC has realized this, and so they’re recommending that those two rates be brought in line with each other,” Baker said, referring to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission which advises Congress on Medicare issues. “And I would guess you can bank on the fact that they’re not going to raise outpatient medical imaging rates to match hospital rates. They’re going to bring hospital rates down.”
So now there’s this short window where hospitals can take advantage of this rate disparity by buying outpatient centers, he said, speaking in a video interview at the recent AHRA 2013 meeting.
What’s more, Baker said, it’s not just about the buyer making a profit – the businesses being sold can benefit from the acquisition as well. In this video, Baker explains why, and whether that’s always the way to go.
Mammography AI Platform for Five-Year Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Gets FDA De Novo Authorization
June 2nd 2025Through AI recognition of subtle patterns in breast tissue on screening mammograms, the Clairity Breast software reportedly provides validated risk scoring for predicting one’s five-year risk of breast cancer.
Can Emerging AI Software Offer Detection of CAD on CCTA on Par with Radiologists?
May 14th 2025In a study involving over 1,000 patients who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exams, AI software demonstrated a 90 percent AUC for assessments of cases > CAD-RADS 3 and 4A and had a 98 percent NPV for obstructive coronary artery disease.
The Reading Room: Artificial Intelligence: What RSNA 2020 Offered, and What 2021 Could Bring
December 5th 2020Nina Kottler, M.D., chief medical officer of AI at Radiology Partners, discusses, during RSNA 2020, what new developments the annual meeting provided about these technologies, sessions to access, and what to expect in the coming year.
