February 20, 2017.
The new price list for medical imaging, published in the Official Journal on February 12, could have consequences on the waiting times for patients who will want to make an appointment for an X-ray, an MRI or a scanner.
A new fee schedule for medical imaging
The new price list for medical imaging increases the technical package for a scanner from € 99 to € 94 and that for an MRI performed in Paris from € 186 to € 172. A drop in prices which is seen as a direct attack for radiologists. The National Federation of Radiologists (FNMR) even threatened to strike if this measure was not withdrawn as soon as possible.
According to the union, this measure puts “ endanger the very existence of radiology practices by removing their amortization and investment capacity “. As a result, many nearby radiology practices will be forced to close. Furthermore, this reduction in prices will make it impossible to invest in new equipment, waiting times, which are already very long today, will therefore not be reduced.
No more waiting times? It’s not sure…
According to the cancer plan III, a patient should not wait more than 20 days for an x-ray appointment. Today, this period is on average 30 days and could well get longer. But for Nicolas Revel, boss of Health Insurance (Uncam), the union exaggerates. ” We reject the idea that this decision could lead to closures of radiology practices », He explained in the columns of the Parisian.
Regarding the extension of waiting times, Uncam relies on a report from the National Cancer Institute (INCA) to explain that this lack of new equipment will not affect patient delays : ” There is no correlation between the observed wait times and the density of MRI scanners Can we read in the report. ” The decrease in appointment times does not apparently depend on the increase in the number of MRIs installed “.
Marine Rondot
