Medicare reimbursement rates continue to disappoint medical imaging managers, according to the latest data from the Medical Imaging Confidence Index.
Imaging managers reported “low confidence” that they will receive adequate reimbursement from Medicare in the fourth quarter of 2012, a trend that has carried through the survey results since its start early last year. Despite the dismal outlook on reimbursement, medical imaging managers still have “high confidence” that their department will maintain or grow as a profit center.
The Medical Imaging Confidence Index (MICI), co-developed by The MarkeTech Group LLC and AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management, reveals results of an online survey of 143 managers of radiology departments to assess their confidence in market conditions.
In this most recent installment, which covers October to December 2012, managers reported being “neutral” about whether their departments will grow monthly volume and whether they will have capital for imaging equipment and IT needs.
Here are the full results for the fourth quarter:
| 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 | 73 | Low confidence |
| Internal operating and staff costs will remain constant | 125 | High confidence |
| Will have access to capital for imaging equipment and IT needs | 89 | Neutral |
| Will maintain/grow as a profit center | 123 | High confidence |
| Composite score across all areas | 102 | Neutral |
Click here to review results from the third quarter of 2012.
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.
