BMI HEALTHCARE TO INTRODUCE
NATIONAL RADIOLOGIST FEE STRUCTURE
Fee Structure - 1
BMI Healthcare is introducing a national fee schedule for reporting of non-interventional diagnostic images by consultant radiologists, following an eight-month review of costs, charges and insurer reimbursements. Consultants’ feedback, discussion with radiologists and trials of the new schedule in 10 of the group’s hospitals have been part of the review and created understanding of the need for the change.
Radiology charges to patients and their insurers are, unusually in private health care, made on an inclusive basis rather than consultant and hospital costs being charged separately.
A key prompt for the review was the move by some insurers to reduce significantly their radiology reimbursement levels – some by as much as 50 percent - to hospitals and other centres that wished to be included in their provider list for subscribers.
“With new providers entering the market in 2008 and downward pressure on charges from this and other funders, we had to take a long, hard look at each element of cost to maintain competitiveness for BMI’s hospitals and the radiologists who work with us,” said Guy Blomfield, group commercial director. “We believe that, combined with our active support to generate even greater volumes of imaging work and our investment in technology to provide consultant radiologists with enhanced reporting resources, the new tariff that will result from this review forms an equitable solution.”
BMI Healthcare has invested £25 million in imaging equipment over the past four years across its 58 hospitals and clinics. Further investment in new systems for radiology information and picture archiving and communication is now being completed. This will allow consultant radiologists working at BMI hospitals to review and report on patients’ diagnostic images more quickly and effectively, including from off-site.
“No provider of services is ever happy with a reduction in unit revenue, as is now the case in diagnostic imaging, particularly MRI area scans,” says Blomfield. “With a reduction of up to 50 percent on the average market price for a single slice MRI area scan in just three years, we had to be robust in our review of each cost element, including our own return on investment and consultant radiologist fees.
Fee Structure - 2
“Over the last six months, 23 per cent of our sites have already operated in line with the maximum tariff for all imaging modalities. Existing fees paid to consultant radiologists are within the national maximums set in our new schedule. In our remaining hospitals, the average reduction in radiologist fees will be 15 percent.
Our work to generate additional patient traffic for diagnostic imaging, and our investment in enhanced reporting technology that will deliver greater efficiency for consultant radiologists are designed to help offset this necessary reduction in our charges and the related fees to consultants,” added Blomfield.
Media enquiries for BMI Healthcare:
PIELLE Consulting on 020 7323 1587 - Carol Friend (07831 171 268 out of hours mobile) or
email: bmi.healthcare@pielleconsulting.com
NEWS RELEASE 19 January 2009
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