This is interesting to me ...$150.00 scans are happening NOW! Just one more sign.. I feel, that though some may see this as this as unfortunate, the economics will eventually drive opinions faster then any other issue. I have always thought there will be room for most if not all of the healthy MRI mfgs to profit as costs come into the range of the masses.
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MRI CENTERS
23441 MADISON #100
TORRANCE, CA 90505
Tel:(310) 373-0000 Fax (310) 373-3748
Business Office: Tel: 310-791-4338 Fax: 310-791-4344
MRI Centers Announces, Saturday and Evening Appointments!
MRI Centers has eliminated the necessity for an appointment between 9-5. We
are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM and on Saturdays
from 7:00 AM TO 4:00 PM.
Please let our office know what is best for your patients. We will be happy to help.
Fast and Easy Scheduling
We've provided these handy tips to make scheduling your patients at MRI Centers
fast and easy and to help you prepare your patients for their Magnetic Resonance
Imaging exams.
Minimum information is required to schedule your patients exam:
Patients name and phone number.
Area of the body to be examined.
Diagnosis and pertinent clinical and medical history
(i.e. Has the patient had prior surgery?).
Referring physician's name, address and phone number.
Before patient's exam time, MRI Centers will also need the following information
(this may be phoned or faxed to our office):
Type of insurance (*MRI Centers will verify your patients' insurance
coverage).
Personal injury, worker's compensation information, and attorney
information (if applicable).
Does the patient need an interpreter? If so, MRI Centers will be happy to
schedule one for you.
Is the patient in severe pain or are they extremely claustrophobic? If so,
please provide them with medication so they will be comfortable during the
exam or alert our scheduler so we can make arrangements for a Nurse
Anesthetist to administer sedation.
Important Scheduling Information
Our radiologists are always available for consultation prior to and following
patients exams.
Financial arrangements made for patients call 1-800-339-7226.
Convenient patient scheduling, extended hours at all centers and weekends
by appointment.
Verbal reports relayed to the doctor within a day of the exam.
Written reports and films delivered by courier within 48 hours.
Representative assigned to your office to provide personalized service.
Free taxi service available on request.
Interpreters scheduled on request.
Tours of our facilities may be scheduled.
Scheduling information can be faxed to your office.
MRI Centers will accept all PPO plans upon verification of benefits.
Our fees include both the technical and professional components.
ANNOUNCING 50 % CASH DISCOUNT ON MR
EXAMINATIONS
MRI Centers in Torrance, operating the new Philips ACS-NT High Field (1.5
Tesla) MR Imager, is pleased to announce a new discount policy for those patients
without adequate health coverage. Such individuals often require MR examination
and while institutions do offer discounts for cash patients they are generally in the
20-30% range.
We are in a position to provide a 50 % Discount for all MR studies when paid for
at the time of appointment. We are certain that this will be of great benefit to many
individuals.
LOW COST LUMBAR SPINE SCREENING EXAMINATION
In the spirit of attempting to keep medical costs down MRI Centers of Torrance is
able to provide a low cost screening examination of the lumbar spine for
chiropractors. This single sequence T2 weighted fast spin echo study affords
exquisite soft tissue detail unobtainable on plain radiographs and yet at a
competitive price of $150.00.
This must be paid at the time of the patients appointment as this can not be billed
to insurance. If the patient should subsequently require a conventional four
sequence exam of the lumbar spine the latter would be discounted by the cost of
the screening study.Please do not hesitate to call for any additional information
regarding this procedure.
RE: AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT ALLOWED AMOUNTS AS
PAYMENT IN FULL
It is our policy to accept what the insurance carriers allow as payment in full for
those PPO plans that we are not contracted with provided they have not informed
you they will absolutely refuse to pay us at all.
If, after processing our billing for services rendered, they send payment and
include a determination, (on their explanation of benefits), there is an amount that
they did not allow, we will perform the same adjustment / write off we would for
those PPO plans we are formally contracted with.
With regard to patient's co-payment responsibilities and deductibles we will accept
the insurance carrier's exact determinations in the same manner as we would for
those carriers we are contractually obligated to. If there is a chance a patient
would be further penalized for choosing our facility over their own PPO, (such
deductibles applies or smaller percentages paid for non-ppo providers), we can
make advance arrangements to deduct these anticipated expenses from the
patient's balance.
It is our wish to be sure your patient is not penalized for choosing us and our hope
that you feel the quality of our images and our service is worth any extra time it
may take to insure we will be allowed to conduct their MRI studies.
Cash discounts (50%) for those patients who have no health coverage and
insurance only arrangements for those patients with significant hardships can be
discussed. in advance, with cur office.
MRI Centers, Inc.
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any thoughts? I realize this is only a marketing test and it is on a competitors (Philips) machine. But it is my opinion that when investors not Drs. buy MRI machines that is when we stockholders make money. |
