Hospital Subsidies For DR

[OnlyScans420]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Has anyone heard of hospitals subsidizing DR groups for coverage or offering pay per click at a premium/higher than standard reimbursement rate for reading their studies? Everyone is talking about how great the job market is, but with reimbursement continuously falling and radiology profit being directly tied to how much/what is read im worried that were heading towards a cliff regarding pay. You'd hope that with demand for radiologists far exceeding the supply, something would eventually come up. There isn't that much more that can feasibly be done to increase efficiency.

 

[SeisK]

Increasingly radiology practices are negotiating subsidies with the hospitals, at more and more successful rates. If you are a DR PP and you are not renegotiating your contract for subsidies you are behind the ball. A boost to PP is a boost to everyone.

 

[Clean7795]

You probably can't just ask for a straight "we need $X to hire a rad" unless the department is falling apart. But if you show the hospital the competitive regional rates and how certain services will no longer be covered/provided if not subsidized, you're more likely to get something out of it.

Some admin are stuck in the old ways and would rather let a department collapse to attrition, and pay 50-75% more for locums/recruitment agencies, but if that's the case you have to be willing to walk away from a hospital contract.

 

[vm26]

Has anyone heard of hospitals subsidizing DR groups for coverage or offering pay per click at a premium/higher than standard reimbursement rate for reading their studies? Everyone is talking about how great the job market is, but with reimbursement continuously falling and radiology profit being directly tied to how much/what is read im worried that were heading towards a cliff regarding pay. You'd hope that with demand for radiologists far exceeding the supply, something would eventually come up. There isn't that much more that can feasibly be done to increase efficiency.

Current group has received subsidies for about last 5-6 years...It's all about the local market and being competitive for recruiting/retainment (eg. $ amount/wRVU). If the payor mix is sub-par (not unusual given US healthcare) then the hospital/HC system needs to subsidize so that the group remains competitive (particularly for boots on the ground-IR/breast rads). I think theres a handful of hospital based specialties that have historically relied on subsidizes (?anesthesia, hospitalists)

 

[Melkor]

Yes, renegotiate asap with your hospital. Our hospital is increasing our PP gross income by approx 25% through subsidies. This is through various types of subsidies to include call pay, paying for overnight tele and even a straight $ subsidy. Rad market hasn't been this hot in awhile. There may never be a better time to renegotiate.