Radiology Business’ most-viewed stories for July 2024

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From the Editor??

You know the staffing shortage is getting bad when it’s taking down 100-year-old radiology practices. That was the case for Southeast Radiology, which closed last month citing, among other reasons, “a shortage of available radiology physicians and the increased competition for these limited resources.” Staffing woes seem to have some influence in at least half of our top stories this month: A hospital expresses dissatisfaction with outsourcing. Australia’s largest teleradiology group makes a move into the states. Rad techs want to create a new position to fuel the inadequate talent pipeline. An overworked rad gets reprimanded for alleged mistakes. And IR groups are increasingly using NPs to fill the vacancy void. How we get out of this mess (with a potential recession and another Medicare cut looming), I’m not sure. But rest assured a lot of people much smarter than me are trying to figure this out.?

An East Coast hospital system formed a new radiology group after its previous relationship with industry giant Rad Partners ended. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic announced the launch of Mid Atlantic Radiology Consultants July 1. Radiologists from Mercy Diagnostic Imaging, alongside professionals from the Radiology Group of Abington and other independent docs, formed the new organization. They started serving as the hospital system’s exclusive imaging provider beginning last month. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania-based Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic made the decision following dissatisfaction with Radiology Affiliates Imaging, an RP practice in New Jersey. READ MORE>

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently remarked on pricing variation in U.S. radiology. James V. O'Leary, MD,?started?the conversation after using the online transparency tool Radiology Assist. The blogger and OB-GYN specialist searched for the price of a CT of the abdomen/pelvis with contrast in his own community and came up with $2,541 at a hospital versus $476 in a freestanding outpatient location. “The imaging center uses board-certified radiologists, and the site is certified by the ACR. Always ask what the cash price is,” O’Leary wrote July 17. Cuban?responded?shortly after, sharing his opinion with 8.8 million followers on X: “It’s insane.” READ MORE>?

Nearly 40% of women in their 40s would delay the start of regular breast cancer screening after learning about potential downsides.?That’s according to the results of a national survey published July 16 in the?Annals of Internal Medicine.?In?April, the USPSTF finalized recommendations that women begin undergoing mammography every other year starting at 40 (instead of 50). Researchers conducted a survey of nearly 500 women between the ages of 39 and 49 with no history of breast cancer or gene mutations. Before viewing a decision aid detailing the potential dangers of mammography, about 27% of survey participants preferred to delay screening versus beginning at their current age. That’s compared to nearly 39% afterward. READ MORE>?

A Pennsylvania radiology group that described itself as “one of the oldest continuing practices in the United States” is sharing insight into why it closed. Southeast Radiology Ltd., in the Philadelphia suburb of Upland, ceased operations at the end of June. The 24-physician practice recently informed Crozer Health about the decision, forcing the hospital group to find new coverage beginning July 1. Southeast Radiology shared a statement ?attributed to President Kurt Muetterties, MD: “Over the past couple of years we faced significant challenges, including a shortage of available radiology physicians and the increased competition for these limited resources, considerable instability and market disruption in our local region, and our reliance on a single health system that has been experiencing severe financial difficulties and a potential sale.” READ MORE>?

The volume of interventional radiology procedures performed by nurse practitioners surged 143% over a 10-year period, according to new research published in the?Journal of the American College of Radiology. Physician assistants also handled a growing share of treatments, with their tally increasing nearly 67% between 2010 and 2021. Overall, such advanced practice providers now perform about 15.5% of interventional radiology services analyzed or over 136,000 out of 882,275 cases in a single year, “representing an important presence in procedural practices.” The findings are derived from an analysis of Medicare Part B claims data. READ MORE>?

Private equity-backed I-MED, Australia’s largest diagnostic imaging provider, is entering the U.S. market with the acquisition of San Diego-based teleradiology group StatRad. I-MED Radiology Network had been searching for a target to expand into North America, seeing parallels with its home market. Currently, teleradiology accounts for about 10% of I-MED’s revenue, with its physicians handling over 1 million reports each year across 170 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Terms of the deal, which was finalized July 1, were not disclosed. I-MED expects to add about $90 million in annual revenue and $20 million in earnings by acquiring the company. Founded in 1995, StatRad bills itself as the second largest telerad provider in the States. READ MORE>?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on July 10 released the 2025 physician fee schedule, which includes a proposed cut to the conversion factor, among other changes. CMS is suggesting a 2.8% reduction to the CF, a multiplier used to convert geographically adjusted relative value units to determine Medicare payment for physician services. The Medical Group Management Association says the proposal will have “dangerous implications” for practices in radiology and other specialties. Doc payment reductions would be “alarming in the best circumstances,” but doing so when 92% of medical groups are reporting increased operating costs is “critically shortsighted.” The CF change incorporates a 0% overall update as required by federal statutes, the expiration of the 2.93% increase for 2024, and a small adjustment to account for changes in valuation for the RVU portion of services. READ MORE>?

The?Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure revoked radiologist Anand P. Lalaji’s credentials July 22, alleging several lapses in clinical judgment. Their decision comes after the teleradiologist and CEO of Atlanta-based The Radiology Group allegedly overlooked concerns captured in multiple medical images. The?KBML previously received a complaint in November alleging that Lalaji violated statutes governing the practice of medicine. Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky, suspended his hospital privileges and the organization’s Medical Executive Committee recommended termination of his credentials, citing “concerns for patient safety due to poor quality readings of imaging studies.” Lalaji is disputing the allegations. READ MORE>?

At an impasse in negotiations, a 70-physician radiology practice terminated its contract with UnitedHealthcare July 11. Scottsdale, Arizona-based Southwest Diagnostic Imaging said the decision is effective immediately, with its 19 locations now out-of-network for those using UHC health plans. Southwest (doing business as SMIL) said the contract only applies to its imaging centers, which span several Arizona communities including Scottsdale, Phoenix and Mesa. SMIL said it will continue to make its “best efforts” to reach a deal and restore in-network access. The two organizations had been negotiating for several months but could not reach a “mutually acceptable agreement.” UHC said the practice is seeking price increases that are not “affordable or sustainable for families and employers in Arizona.” READ MORE>?

Rad tech groups are proposing establishing a new entry level role to help relieve staffing shortages. The?American Society of Radiologic Technologists and others are suggesting the potential creation of the “imaging medical aide” position to perform basic clinical tasks. Duties could include transporting patients, screening before MRIs and starting IVs, ASRT et al. detailed in a white paper released July 16. Some hospitals are already employing medical assistants in a similar fashion, and tech groups believe there is a need to “define and regulate the position.” The committee included representatives from 18 radiologic science organizations who met in February to discuss remedies for persistent staffing shortages. Among them were the ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and the?Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. READ MORE>?

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