Connecticut’s Medicaid program was cut earlier this year and on June 3, 2015 some of these cuts were restored. However, radiologists still suffer the 42.5% cut as no restoration of reimbursements for these services was given. The cut was part of a budget tightening effort keeping spending in line with revenue. This will drive the availability of services down as cuts will have to be absorbed through decreases in staff, and hours of operation.
According to Connecticut’s “News Junkie” magazine, http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/reduction_in_radiology_rates_will_limit_access_for_medicaid_patients/the president of the Connecticut State Medical Society Dr. Robert Russo said about this reduction in reimbursement “that means instead of seeing five Medicaid patients per day, these radiology centers will have to see one. That essentially creates an access issue for those who need these preventative services, Russo said.”
Imaging centers cannot survive doing a mammogram for $20, and performing $6 chest X-rays. The question being pondered by these centers is that radiology is bearing a disproportionate percentage of the state cuts. This is further supported by the fact that OBGYN reimbursements also previously cut, have been restored.
Industry leaders both in healthcare and specifically in imaging are addressing this issue with lawmakers and have requested that they take another look at the rate reduction. Without such review and adjustment, the smaller community based radiology centers will fail or will be purchased by larger and perhaps less accessible providers. Legislators are now debating the issue and will draw their conclusion shortly.
The elephant in the room is obviously the question of other states following this model and in some way concluding that imaging services have some room for reduction. It would be wise for imaging centers nation-wide to investigate the likelihood of similar actions in their state.
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