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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Paradise
Posts: 855
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Smith
Price ranges vary for most things, and while there are exceptions, IME you generally get what you pay for. Do those $200-$300 MRIs include interpretation by a radiologist, or do they just hand you a discfull of images? (With some discount places I checked, that's what they do.) Cut prices can sometimes mean cut corners.
Other factors that influence price can include whether it's done in-hospital or at an outpatient imaging center, contrasting, body part being imaged, and local competition/going rates (it's kinda hard to email your spine to Lower Slobbovia for discount imaging...  )
It may make sense for someone without insurance to do that kind of shopping, but I was talking specifically about when insurance companies are getting billed and doing the paying.
Google: MRI cost
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I don't know about the one in San Diego as I was only told about it by another doc down there, however the two up by me are cutting edge. One has a newer 3.0 T scanner (big magnet/greater detail), both only use in-house board-certified neuroradiologists (yes, you can pronounce their last names and just where is Slobbovia?) and include a written report. They are both in very close proximity to two major hospitals; one of which is rated in the top 100 hospitals in the nation. Both hospitals have their own scanners too.
If these outpatient facilities were of inferior image quality or their reads were substandard, then no local surgeons would risk their reputation or do surgery (without redoing the scan or obtaining overread) having obtained a scan from an imaging facility whose results were suspect especially since they have other options available. They would not survive in this regional market if they were not sound.
As far as reimbursement, I was told by the business manager several weeks ago that one of the largest major insurance carriers reimburses $362 for the MRI in which I was inquiring, deductables, co-pays and co-insurance aside. And yes, cutting prices CAN mean cutting corners. You've just made my case against HMO's, most work comp systems and national health care!
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