Self referral
In today’s news there is an article about medical imaging and self referral. The theme was with regard to overuse of imaging technology and the medical billing to Medicare.
I am soliciting feedback on the article so as to start a dialogue to provide an understanding of what might become of it all. You can read the article here.
I look forward to your comments.
Tags: imaging, medical billing, Medicare, overuse, self referral
August 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Yes, the article is correct in its assement of a big problem, however this same issue has already been addressed and readdressed with the stark laws and again with stark 2 setting parameters for the physicians and their financial arrangements with regard to ownership arrangements and the result was the physician had to divest him or herself from those arrangements. Now what motavates an article like this my guess is the poor poor insurance companys , yes they have in place today beyond what the govt. has set down there own set of parameters and hoops to jump through. In the article they metioned MRI,CT and PET but what really is happening is the physician has to go through precert procedures with the insurance companys to get the approval for these types of test and in my opinion what that does is give the insurance companys the power over the patients care not the physician and this pre cert process the insurances are looking for ways not to have to pay for these test, and beyond that they are insurance companys not physicians and should not be planning pt care and assesment that the job of the physician. Futhermore, there is a push today to stop all ancillary svc with respect to imaging being billed out of a physicians office again insurance companys are behind this push , which if this happens the only entities that will be able to do these test will be hospitals and approved meaning approved by who yes insurance companys IDTF ’s that have negotiated probably such a low ball fee schedule it will be hard for those IDTF’s to stay in business.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
The article states the facts and scenarios of crooked business. Health care industry is a business and in business there is always few good men and few others who would want to earn more.
Now self referral - when used just to make more, is a disgrace to the industry specifically to the doctors. Medical imaging or any similar technology should not be in any issue as such if and only if it is used accordingly.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
great article. I will bookmark this
May 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
just stopped by.Gotta love msn, very fine stuff. Thank you…see ya
June 26th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.
June 27th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Good post but not cool enough to rule. I usually never comment on posts, and yet I can’t help leaving a comment: people never learn, they will always spam you! Amazing work.. beautiful
July 1st, 2009 at 9:25 pm
amazing stuff thanx
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
thanks !! very helpful post!
July 4th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
thanks !! very helpful post!