Who can get closest to guessing what Sacred Heart Hospital charged for one CT Scan?

Government regulations

What government regulation would stop a PA who has had all the training to operate a CT scan from positioning and taking the pictures? Doctor ordered. Preliminary radiologist report from India which gives a clear caveat that the scan must be looked at by licensed doctor in that state, and then have a list of doctors who wish to participate with online links for follow up?

The first PET scan I had was on a large RV and it went to hospitals in the region. Why did government regulation allow that?

2seaoat wrote:Government regulations

What government regulation would stop a PA who has had all the training to operate a CT scan from positioning and taking the pictures? Doctor ordered. Preliminary radiologist report from India which gives a clear caveat that the scan must be looked at by licensed doctor in that state, and then have a list of doctors who wish to participate with online links for follow up?

The first PET scan I had was on a large RV and it went to hospitals in the region. Why did government regulation allow that?

Did that mobil group have Thier radiologist out of India?

2seaoat wrote:Government regulations

What government regulation would stop a PA who has had all the training to operate a CT scan from positioning and taking the pictures?  Doctor ordered.  Preliminary radiologist report from India which gives a clear caveat that the scan must be looked at by licensed doctor in that state, and then have a list of doctors who wish to participate with online links for follow up?

The first PET scan I had was on a large RV and it went to hospitals in the region.  Why did government regulation allow that?

A PA is not usually a trained CT technologist....it would be cheaper to hire a CT tech rather than under utilizing a PA.

Bob wrote:installed pricing on refurbished CT scanners:

   4 Slice: $65,000 - $90,000*
   16 Slice: $120,000 - $160,000*
   64 Slice: $175,000 - $300,000*

http://info.blockimaging.com/bid/67932/How-Much-Does-a-CT-Scanner-Cost

Refurbished.......no way. Let's get a brand new one with a service contract.

Refurbished.......no way. Let's get a brand new one with a service contract.

Agree. At 60% efficiency, you take a big hit with the machine down. I would cross train PA's because they are already talking about walk in clinics at walmarts, and the flexibility of personnel scheduling would be huge if you had a team of 6 or 7 for one store who were running it 24/7. I have had my cat scan in one state taken to radiologist and doctors in another state to analyze. Why couldn't a group of radiologist out of India give the first review of the film which is electronically transferred to those doctors which are licensed to view film in that jurisdiction? Is it a violation to take the picture in Florida and have doctors in MN review the same?

Dot wrote:Here's what Medicare pays for a CT of the abd w/contrast. Barely over $300.

http://www.cms.gov/apps/physician-fee-schedule/search/search-results.aspx?Y=0&T=0&HT=0&CT=3&H1=74160&M=1

If you want CT of abd and pelvis CPT code to check is 74177 is just under $400.

My guess is you are adding up ALL the charges.

No just guessing, I thought it might be lower than I guest but I didn't know. That is low.

2seaoat wrote:Refurbished.......no way. Let's get a brand new one with a service contract.

Agree.  At 60% efficiency, you take a big hit with the machine down.  I would cross train PA's because they are already talking about walk in clinics at walmarts, and the flexibility of personnel scheduling would be huge if you had a team of 6 or 7 for one store who were running it 24/7.   I have had my cat scan in one state taken to radiologist and doctors in another state to analyze.  Why couldn't a group of radiologist out of India give the first review of the film which is electronically transferred to those doctors which are licensed to view film in that jurisdiction?   Is it a violation to take the picture in Florida and have doctors in MN review the same?

You could get by with a PA, a tech, and receptionist/insurance/ billing person.

Bob wrote:It was just a tad over 10,000 smackers.  That was the billed charge.
But then there was another figure that said $7400.  I say "another figure" because it wasn't clear to me what exactly that amount was referring to.
But the billed charge was $10,000+

We have four winners.  Your winning tickets will get you a front row seat at Plaza de Luna for the seagull show.  Just tell the seagulls you have tickets and they'll be okay with that.

Can I take my own coke, milk duds and popcorn?   

ppaca wrote:

Can I take my own coke, milk duds and popcorn?   

You can take em in,  but if you consume them the scan will go haywire.  Or the contrast.  Or somethin.  At least they say you have to fast for 8 hours before getting scanned.  I guess all that food inside your stomach and intestines would block them from seeing the tumors.  lol

I want you all to notice how light hearted this thread is. You might remember that thread about me having to pay the twenty grand for that lousy little procedure last year. How I was ranting and foaming at the mouth and seeing red and wanted to get me an eye for an eye.

But this thread's a little different. Why? Because the whole damn thing aint comin out of my pocket this time. This time I actually have for the first time in my life what most of you take for granted. An honest insurance policy.

by Sal Today at 4:16 pm
Going to hospitals for diagnostic procedures is akin to taking your car into the dealership for simple repairs.


You're gonna get raped.
------
Not if you have a warranty

Bob wrote:George H.W. Bush was once asked "how much does a loaf of bread cost?"
George didn't have a clue.

So let's see how much you know about the price of health care locally.

The person with the closest guess will receive two free tickets to the best upcoming Pensacola show.
I will reveal the answer later today.

I don't have a clue what a loaf of bread costs either. So what?

2seaoat wrote:Refurbished.......no way. Let's get a brand new one with a service contract.

Agree.  At 60% efficiency, you take a big hit with the machine down.  I would cross train PA's because they are already talking about walk in clinics at walmarts, and the flexibility of personnel scheduling would be huge if you had a team of 6 or 7 for one store who were running it 24/7.   I have had my cat scan in one state taken to radiologist and doctors in another state to analyze.  Why couldn't a group of radiologist out of India give the first review of the film which is electronically transferred to those doctors which are licensed to view film in that jurisdiction?   Is it a violation to take the picture in Florida and have doctors in MN review the same?

A CT scanner has to be surrounded by a special room material because of the radiation.

it would cost you more than a million dollar to just start up a small mobile unit. maybe more

Your not even considering billing specialist. and a CLIA and credentialing specialist to handle license and fees. You would have to be inspected every year and pay those fee too. doctor and nurses are not specialized in compliance law and if you got one who was, they wouldn't have time to do their other duties it so complex.

I know y'all are just dreaming here, because trust me and you know if it could be done easy like that and profitable it would be very popular lol

and I know it looks good on paper, but in and out in 15 minute is a fantasy lol

You guy only look at it from your end. It'z expensive to start a lab of any kind. especially radiology.

oh and you better get a PR person, because people just don't show up because you want them too lol

oh and don't forget, youll need to have a EMR , add $250,000 with annual license fees and someone who can work on it. IT

oh and don't expect to get paid right away unless you are only taking cash. 2 things, if your only taking cash, you will be out of biznez, oh don't bother. but if not expect it to take months sometimes for reimbursement all the while the salaries and operating cost pile up.

I read an article in Medscape not long ago that it takes an average 5 million dollar to start a small office lab.

so who do you want to blame? the people who work in healthcare who deserve to have living wages? The manufactures who spend millions on making equipment?

I tell ya what, we should buy all our equipment from china lol and pay all healthcare professional min wage. That should fix it.

BTW... the regulations are far too many to mention. please direct yourself to CLIA 88 and start reading

http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/CLIA/index.html?redirect=/clia/

oh and to my knowledge I do not believe that a patient test can be interpreted in another country. I'm sure HIPAA or some other gov regulation cover that since other countries do not abide by our federal guidelines.

Why do I assume that above^^^ because even to send a test to another state, the place must be certified under CLIA. or you will NOT get paid.

I'll have to let you figure out if your cash biznez idea is worth it, but I highly doubt it. most mobile are part of a group or hospital.

Bob wrote:I want you all to notice how light hearted this thread is.  You might remember that thread about me having to pay the twenty grand for that lousy little procedure last year.  How I was ranting and foaming at the mouth and seeing red and wanted to get me an eye for an eye.  

But this thread's a little different.  Why?  Because the whole damn thing aint comin out of my pocket this time.  This time I actually have for the first time in my life what most of you take for granted.  An honest insurance policy.

welcome to liberal hood

Dot wrote:

2seaoat wrote:Here is a question for the medical folks on this forum. Why can't I get a group of investors and buy a cat scan machine and have them set up at a walmart parking lot with a simple pole barn building next to the building where people choose a doctor online when they book their appointment, and the doctor will order the test and we will run the machine 24/7 and charge 200 bucks a scan running them in 15 minute intervals. Have a nurse practitioner on duty to give a quick physical and prep for $25, and charge $25 to give the patient their cd of the scan which they can take to any doctor for a second opinion, but a centralized group of radiologist in India would give an initial review of the scan and request the scan be reviewed by a Doctor in that state. $250.00 why can't it be done?

Government regulations

Lol... that was going to be my exact post. I've described many times the hoops to set up a lab or medical equip company or any provider... it's an amazingly convoluted and complex process... especially if you want medicare biz. It must be nice to be clueless.

Bob wrote:

ppaca wrote:

Can I take my own coke, milk duds and popcorn?   

You can take em in,  but if you consume them the scan will go haywire.  Or the contrast.  Or somethin.  At least they say you have to fast for 8 hours before getting scanned.  I guess all that food inside your stomach and intestines would block them from seeing the tumors.  lol

No I meant to watch the seagulls.

A cheaper way to have it done Bob would have been to hook battery cable's up to your ????s, throw water on you and then have someone take digital pics while you're writhing around. Hell I would have only charged you a free meal.    

We all have an evil side.

PkrBum wrote:

Dot wrote:

2seaoat wrote:Here is a question for the medical folks on this forum.  Why can't I get a group of investors and buy a cat scan machine and have them set up at a walmart parking lot with a simple pole barn building next to the building where people choose a doctor online when they book their appointment, and the doctor will order the test and we will run the machine 24/7 and charge 200 bucks a scan running them in 15 minute intervals.  Have a nurse practitioner on duty to give a quick physical and prep for $25, and charge $25 to give the patient their cd of the scan which they can take to any doctor for a second opinion, but a centralized group of radiologist in India would give an initial review of the scan and request the scan be reviewed by a Doctor in that state.  $250.00 why can't it be done?

Government regulations

Lol... that was going to be my exact post. I've described many times the hoops to set up a lab or medical equip company or any provider... it's an amazingly convoluted and complex process... especially if you want medicare biz. It must be nice to be clueless.

LOL oh don't tell us that. We thought we could just set up a barn and do the deed.... you know like way back when there was less gov regulations lol

You know I wanted to feed the world one day by sending stray dogs and cats that we tax payers pay to kill across the country to other countries. I think getting through PETA and gov regulations for a lab might be easier LOL

ppaca wrote:

Bob wrote:

ppaca wrote:

Can I take my own coke, milk duds and popcorn?   

You can take em in,  but if you consume them the scan will go haywire.  Or the contrast.  Or somethin.  At least they say you have to fast for 8 hours before getting scanned.  I guess all that food inside your stomach and intestines would block them from seeing the tumors.  lol

No I meant to watch the seagulls.

Forgive me, ppaca. I misunderstood because I was too busy talking and not listening to you. You got it, brother.

Seriously though, it is nice not having to worry how you're going to pay for it.

Markle wrote:

I don't have a clue what a loaf of bread costs either.  So what?

I fully agree. Whenever I'm at the supermarket I hand em a twenty for a loaf of bread and tell em not to worry about counting the change because I don't know or care what the loaf costs. lol

I had two of these scans this past year....one in July and one in August. The military paid for them though and my guess was 10k each.