Impact of DRA law clouds MRI's near future

Oct 31, 2006

The U.S. MRI market continued to chug along at a respectable pace in 2006, with nearly 1,000 scanners expected to be sold during the year, according to market research firm IMV Medical Information Division of Des Plaines, IL. The installed base of MRI scanners has been growing by about 4% annually for the last several years, according to IMV's estimates.

But clouds loom on the horizon as the January 2007 implementation date for the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 approaches. Signed into law earlier this year to effect cuts in Medicare reimbursement, the DRA would slash reimbursement for many MRI procedures conducted in an outpatient setting.

The DRA has many operators of outpatient imaging centers wringing their hands over whether they can continue to do business in an environment in which revenues drop by as much as 30%. And perhaps no modality is as associated with entrepreneurial outpatient imaging as MRI.

Will the DRA lead to a widespread drop in MRI scanner purchasing? Or has much of the fear of the DRA's impact already been incorporated into MRI orders? Or will the cavalry somehow ride to the rescue at the 11th hour, with Congress overturning the legislation in a lame-duck session after the November 7 elections?

Whatever happens, one thing is certain: MRI vendors will continue to churn out new technology, and the halls of McCormick Place in Chicago will be the best place to see it. At this year's show, 3-tesla scanners will continue to claim their place as the new gold standard for clinical high-field imaging.

Also look for specialized scanners to garner attention. Breast MRI continues to make inroads as an adjunct to mammography, and several vendors will be introducing new image acquisition techniques and breast imaging accessories. Another market segment, orthopedic MRI with dedicated extremity scanners, has also been experiencing activity.

For a full rundown on new products and technologies to be shown on the technical exhibit floor, just click on the links below.

Disclosure notice: AuntMinnie.com is owned by IMV, Ltd.