| Highly paidradiologists may not generate much | | | | health care. Further, the makers of high-tech imaging |
| sympathy but their world may be changing. The | | | | equipment may take a big hit should government |
| constant rise in their salaries seems to have hit a wall | | | | insurance payments for such tests be reduced. Lower |
| and indeed due to some changes in reimbursement | | | | reimbursements may make hospitals reconsider buying |
| rates they may actually have fallen recently. Health | | | | the $1 million imaging machines. |
| care reform and the recession are already impacting | | | | The recent stock market collapse has had a major |
| the bottom line negatively. Last year, U.S. hospitals saw | | | | impact on older physicians decisions. Some |
| more patients without insurance or the ability to pay | | | | Radiologists are postponing retirement because of the |
| their hospital bills. Bad debt has risen while donations | | | | economy's impact on their retirement savings. But |
| have fallen. | | | | even a three- to five-year delay won't address the |
| The United States is in the midst of a physician | | | | impending loss of experienced physicians. This |
| shortage that may intensify as the largest part of the | | | | postponement has resulted in fewer jobs being |
| population, the baby boomers, age and their need for | | | | offered and graduating residents not finding as many |
| health care grows. The shrinking economy, the aging | | | | opportunities as before. Residents rather than |
| population and the impending health care reform are | | | | committing themselves to less desirable jobs now, are |
| the main factors impacting this problem. | | | | opting for locum tenens jobs and waiting before |
| A study indicates that there is currently a shortage of | | | | committing to full time employment. So for the short |
| diagnostic radiologists in the United States. The | | | | term, it appears there are fewer good jobs available. |
| American College of Radiology's (ACR) survey of | | | | Health Insurance Reform |
| hiring in 1998 measured the shortage at 600 but others | | | | Another uncertainty is the outcome of national health |
| see techology easing the shortage as radiologists are | | | | reform. If the health care reform actually works in |
| able to perform more procedures more efficiently. | | | | increasing the enrollment into health care insurance |
| Economy and Aging Population | | | | then the long term the aging population and these |
| The US is aging. Between 2010 and 2035, all age | | | | increased numbers should push demand for services |
| groups 70 and above will increase over 95%. This | | | | and therefore cost higher. However, no one yet |
| means there will be a greater demand for all health | | | | knows what will happen to reimbursement rates from |
| care services. Further, it is estimated that as many as | | | | Medicare. Already there has been some lowering of |
| one-third of today's practicing physicians will retire by | | | | rates they pay in Radiology which has directly |
| 2020. There are about 30,000 practicing radiologists in | | | | impacted that specialty. The question is will there be |
| the US. | | | | more rates cut to affect all specialties. |
| The recession and massive job loss across the | | | | Because of these and other factors many physician |
| country has had a direct impact on the revenue | | | | practices are holding off making any decisions until |
| stream to physicians. When people lose their job, they | | | | they have a better idea of how the health reform will |
| also lose their health care benefits and so access to | | | | impact these reimbursements. |