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Nuclear stress testing is arguably the number one diagnostic for many if not a majority of cardiology practices including capitated models which want to use the modality but must tightly control costs per patient. For being such a critical reference tool, current reimbursement cuts have negatively and severely impacted Doctors' ability to utilize it effectively. Research shows that facilities' cost per cardiac stress test ranges between $300 - $600, depending on the practice, with the average cardiologist performing about 800 tests annually. With reimbursements for these tests set at their low...

In response to the recent 2010 reimbursement rate cuts, Simplified Imaging Solutions (SIS), a nuclear lab management company, has recently launched a project specifically designed to bring about awareness to physician practices and hospitals in the U.S. of sorely needed solutions for reducing SPECT testing costs, and how to immediately implement them. Research shows that facilities' cost per cardiac stress test ranges between $300 and $600, depending on the practice, with the average cardiologist performing about 800 tests annually. With reimbursements for these tests set at their lowest leve...

As overhead costs have become a deepening concern, significant inefficiency is often recognized within the in-office diagnostic components of medical practices. Diagnostics service organizations (DSOs) which use best practices and economies of scale to optimize the efficiency standards of in-office diagnostics such as nuclear labs will continue to increase their U.S. market share over the next few years, according to a recent report by Choice Health Care Partners (CHCP), a national physician practice advisory group. DSOs are being rapidly retained by practices and hospitals to cut costs and as...

A survey of members of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reveals that practice managers are most concerned with three main challenges: rising operating costs, managing finances with the uncertainty and Medicare reimbursement rates. "It is not surprising that 'maintaining finances with the uncertainty of Medicare reimbursement rates' jumped to the No. 2 spot this year due to the continued congressional irresponsibility in not permanently addressing the flawed sustainable growth rate formula," said William F. Jessee, MD, president and CEO of MGMA in a recent interview. Medicare re...