When you’re in recovery from a hospital visit — whether it’s a major surgery, a visit to the emergency room or just a routine procedure — the last thing you want to worry about is paying your medical bills. Although the doctors may have stitched you up, sometimes they don’t quite stick to procedure when it comes to filing your … Read More
Even medical professionals may not understand healthcare pricing
Capitol Imaging Services shares a short story about the misunderstanding that even doctors have about healthcare pricing and costs for patients. On this particular occasion, two physicians told our staff that a local hospital was less expensive than a Capitol Imaging Services affiliate for a particular procedure, a procedure often not covered by insurance. When fully explained by our associates, … Read More
A New Year’s resolution suggestion: ask how much that test will cost!
Would you be upset if you received a medical bill for what most would consider to be an outrageous amount of money for a simple test? That’s what one person experienced with a charge of nearly $12,500 for lab work! This story, published by National Public Radio in December 2020, illustrates the continuing issue in healthcare: exorbitant fees charged by … Read More
Customer service stinks
The above is from a quote in an article about television news personality John Stossel, when he revealed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer isn’t really what’s bothering him. It’s the service he was receiving this week at a New York hospital. He wrote: “My doctors tell me my growth was caught early and I’ll be fine,” … Read More
Shop smart for health care: imaging studies
Become an educated consumer. Take ownership in your health care dollar and understand why you were referred to one place over another. Ask your doctor if he or she is required by his or her employer or financially incentivized to send you to a particular medical facility for testing. Look up your imaging study. There are numerous websites that provide estimates … Read More
Avoid the surprise of a hospital radiology fee
Consumer frustration with the cost of medical care is at an all-time high as many purchasers of narrow-network, high deductible and high co-pay health plans are finding out that the benefits they get from their monthly insurance premiums are much more limited than they thought. One target of the ire is “surprise” medical bills for services such as radiology that … Read More
Be cautious when evaluating imaging centers
When evaluating based on price, that’s the advice given by a physician who works for a university medical center in New York during a radiology conference held in late 2016. We agree with that advice. However, in looking further into the advice the physician provided, his assumptions were often that “nobody really knows” if lower prices can provide the quality … Read More
Hospitals tend to be compensated by insurance companies at about twice the rate for private independent companies
The headline is a statement made in an article posted in the Southwest Citizen’s Guide on patient comparison shopping for imaging services. Often, the follow-up question most will ask is “Why?” Common reasons include: Hospitals often negotiate with insurers for higher reimbursement rates on their imaging services. Hospitals claim they need higher reimbursements due to their large overhead and to compensate … Read More
Insurance deductible, coinsurance, and copay: know the differences
Many people are confused about the differences between an insurance deductible, co-pay and coinsurance. In short, all three represent the portion of the medical bill that you are responsible for in case you get sick or injured. Another term used is out-of-pocket expense. However, there are some very unique differences between each one. Deductible An insurance deductible is usually a … Read More
Federal law allows hospitals to charge facility fees
From a story posted locally comes this excerpt: Federal law allows hospitals to charge facility fees for outpatient services at affiliated clinics, regardless of whether the clinic is anywhere near the hospital. The clinics may have the same equipment, staffing and operating expenses as a private practice, and may look much the same as a private practice, but the simple fact that … Read More
Health insurance company begins shopper program
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is rolling out a shopper program that “allows members to choose, based on quality and cost, the diagnostic imaging facility where their services are rendered.” Beginning July 1, 2017, the AIM Specialty Care Shopper program introduced to their individual Preferred Care PPO and HMO Louisiana, Inc. members for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and … Read More
The difference between hospital based and outpatient imaging
Did you know there is a difference in where you have your medical imaging exam? Most people don’t realize they have the option to visit an outpatient imaging center instead of a hospital for their exam. Or, they don’t understand there is often a big difference. At freestanding outpatient imaging centers such as Capitol Imaging Services affiliates, you can save … Read More
Report cites “out of pocket” health spending is soaring
According to a research report published, U.S. health care spending increased to $3.3 trillion in 2016, with out-of-pocket health care costs borne directly by consumers rising 3.9 percent – the fastest rate of growth since 2007. Published by the non-profit organization, Health Affairs, health expenditures swallowed a greater part of the economy, with health expenditures making up 17.9 percent share … Read More
Be a smart shopper on health care
The bane of any purchaser is not knowing enough about the purchase opportunity. We try hard to understand the relationship between price and what we’re getting. Nowhere is this bane more pronounced than in our relationship with our health care system. There are many ways we interface with it: Emergencies — where we ask no questions and simply plead to … Read More
The mistake that can cost you up to 85% MORE for medical tests
Diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs can be very expensive if you don’t have insurance. In fact, they can be expensive even if you DO have insurance, depending on your policy’s deductibles and co-pays. Most people don’t realize that the fees for these procedures can vary tremendously, depending on where they are performed. Many people use hospitals … Read More
Research: hospital outpatient prices much higher for identical services
According to research published by the National Institute for Health Care Reform, average hospital outpatient department prices for common imaging, colonoscopy and laboratory service can be DOUBLE THE PRICE for identical services provided in a physician’s office or other community-based setting, such as an independent provider, i.e. Diagnostic Imaging Services. Using private insurance claims data for nearly 600,000 active and … Read More
Another example of hospital imaging MRI exam “sticker shock”
Even though this is not a story from our area, it still holds relevance not only in the greater New Orleans area, but in the southeastern United States as well as the entire country. This story is from a public radio news reporter in Boston, Massachusetts who needed to undergo an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. The reporter did call … Read More
Three large insurers join forces for health care price transparency
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer, will lead an industry effort to throw a spotlight on the prices paid for health-care services, making their costs available to consumers on the Internet. The effort, organized by a nonprofit called the Health Care Cost Institute, builds on steps the Obama administration has taken to shed light on prices charged … Read More
How to figure out the cost of a medical procedure before it happens
DIS shares an article regarding tips to help people figure out the cost of medical care BEFORE having anything done. It’s a well-written and easy-to-understand guideline that divides healthcare into two distinguished groups: Routine care Emergency care The first group is fairly easy; the big-ticket stuff, less so, though you can do some things to help yourself. In the … Read More
DIS women’s imaging: quality of care in an efficient environment
As the largest independently-owned outpatient imaging organization in Lousiana, DIS provides a short overview of the depth and breadth of our women’s health imaging portfolio. While one local health system once touted that they performed over 2,500 mammograms in one year, DIS often performs that many IN ONE MONTH! From mammography to tomosynthesis to breast biopsy, no other outpatient provider … Read More
Employer health plan deductibles see big 5-year jump
DIS shares a USA Today news story from September on a report that indicates health insurance deductibles taking a huge jump as we head into 2015. Premiums for employer-paid insurance are up 3% this year, but deductibles are up nearly 50% since 2009, the report by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows. The average deductible this year is $1,217, up from … Read More
How much difference in price is there between hospital imaging and DIS?
It can be a complicated and somewhat cumbersome task to try to find and then understand the information published by the federal government regarding reported submitted charges for certain imaging procedures by local hospitals. However, that’s why DIS is here to try to simplify the information so you can make informed choices! If you visit the Centers for Medicare and … Read More
Insurance out-of-pocket costs can be reduced by using outpatient imaging!
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a video from a medical doctor who explains the conundrum a patient of his had when the doctor recommended a CT scan. In this example, even with health insurance, the patient had an opportunity to pay nearly 1/3 less to an independent outpatient imaging center, that in the words of the doctor, “does perfectly good CAT scans.” Kudos to … Read More
Published research shows hospital-owned physician groups have 20% higher medical costs
As hospital systems nationwide acquire more physician practices, everybody may be getting hurt. A new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that hospital ownership of physician groups in California led to up to 20% overall higher costs for patient care. Employers and workers have to pay for these increased costs in the form of higher premiums, and … Read More
Data shows large rise in list prices at hospitals
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a news report showing that list prices at hospitals across the United States have risen at a pace that outpaces inflation. Most people with health insurance, including those receiving Medicare, won’t ever a see a bill for the hospital’s list price because the insurer negotiates a lower rate. But these rising charges are a growing concern … Read More
Have you spoken with your benefits value advisor?
Do you know if you have one? For many health insurance carriers, members (i.e. policy holders) can usually call or email an advisor that will assist in identifying benefits information, cost estimates and information on in-network providers for health care services. For services including surgeries, specialty procedures AND medical imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans, advisors can be … Read More
Don’t believe “your insurance will pay for it”
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares the experience of one woman who wrote an October 2014 piece for Forbes magazine. As many discover — and DIS has warned — trying to find the TRUE cost of an imaging exam such as an MRI is much more time-consuming that it should be. Because of the convolution of prices that DIS refers to as … Read More
Tips for talking to your doctor about price
Taking an active role in your health and communicating with your doctor is critical to getting good healthcare; that includes discussions around cost. Here are some tips on preparing for discussions with your doctor about price. Get educated. Before you go to your appointment, become familiar with your health plan. Find out about your co-pay, deductible and what procedures are … Read More
Another example of the higher cost of hospital imaging exams
Diagnostic Imaging Services received this copy from a woman who visited a New Orleans area hospital for an ultrasound of the abdomen. DIS performs two ultrasounds of the abdomen: CPT code 76700 abdominal complete CPT code 76705 abdominal limited As you can see from the image, the radiology charge from the hospital was $1,224.00. DIS performs CPT code 76700 with … Read More
Hospital employment of doctors rising rapidly
The number of physician practices owned by hospitals and health systems jumped 86% from 2012 to 2015, according to a survey conducted by the Avalere Health for the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI). The number of physicians employed by hospitals increased by nearly 50% during the same period, from 95,000 doctors in 2012 to more than 140,000 physicians in 2015, the … Read More
What do people who choose Diagnostic Imaging Services think of us?
Part of what we do daily at Diagnostic Imaging Services is to give people the chance to tell us what they thought about their experience with us. We know there are many choices when needing an imaging exam and we want to know how we are doing in terms of care and service. By actively soliciting people, we gleam information … Read More
The eye popping cost of cancer drugs
While Diagnostic Imaging Services is not an organization that provides oncology services, we do screen and perform exams on people who may receive a new diagnosis of cancer, a notification that a previous cancer has returned or is/has received treatment for cancer. For those people, this story from CBS news may ring very true. For those who have not themselves … Read More
Ways to save on health care costs
As health care consumers endure higher deductibles and reduced insurance benefits, it is becoming more important to understand and even negotiate prices before receiving medical treatment. Dr. Kathryn Stewart, medical director of care management at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, believes that patients can and should be more proactive about seeking the best prices for their services. “Hospital costs are … Read More
A 128 percent difference for the same imaging exams
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares information comparing exam prices taken directly from a 2015 hospital invoice and the shocking difference between hospital prices and those from DIS. Exam CPT Code New Orleans Hospital DIS CT cervical spine without contrast 72125 $3,102 $1,109 Nuclear Medicine bone SPECT 78320 $931 $820 X-ray cervical spine 5 view 72050 $765 $180 Total Price: $4,805 $2,109 … Read More
The future of health care: paying thousands before insurance kicks in
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a news report that points out that many more U.S. workers will health insurance through their employer may still have to shell out thousands of dollars before it kicks in effect. According to the story, “more employers are offering consumer-directed health plans, which usually come with high deductibles. In 2015, 81% of large employers will offer … Read More
High health plan deductibles weigh down more employees
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a news story about the continuing rise in popularity of high deductible health insurance plans. As quoted in the story, “You can’t sugarcoat this. This is a more challenging situation for consumers and it’s a reflection of how difficult it is to afford health care.” Next year, nearly a third of large employers will offer only high-deductible … Read More
High quality and lower cost. Yes, it’s possible in health care.
A few months ago, many of you have started the year with a new healthcare plan. Many more individuals who chose their employer’s health insurance plan faced high (or higher) deductibles. For many, this means a higher health insurance deductible than you have ever had before. Did you know that even in the medical field, different service providers charge different … Read More
DIS offers a price transparency edge over area hospitals
More and more people who are recommended to have an imaging exam are demanding to know the cost of procedures up front — cost being what they potentially might have to pay after the calculation of an exam’s list price and insurance discounts. After all, with both high co-pay and high deductible health plans, they now bear more responsibility for a … Read More
Sticker shock! Hospital versus independent facility…
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a news report that aired on the ABC Evening News on Monday, December 2, 2013. This report investigates the reasons or rationale for the discrepancy in price between an independent facility and a hospital facility regarding blood tests. Unfortunately, the woman who had the tests received the “sticker shock” AFTER getting the bill. The hospital facility … Read More
What is the difference between outpatient vs. hospital-based medical imaging?
That’s a common question asked by both people who are patients themselves and medical providers such as physicians, podiatrists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The prevailing attitude is that there is no difference so it doesn’t matter where you go for your MRI, CT or ultrasound. That simply is not true. It can make a BIG difference when a person … Read More
The bigger the hospital the higher the prices
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares an opinion regarding hospital health care costs and sharing one particular reason: “Doctors are fleeing private practices for the security of hospitals, and the exodus will be a disaster for U.S. health care. The bigger hospitals get, the more they can jack up their prices—up to 44 percent higher according to one estimate.” DIS is an … Read More