Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

With the technical component for some imaging scans dropping by double-digit amounts (see cover story, first article), it can be a nightmare trying to survive. Luckily, our experts offer a few suggestions.

Do this: If your practice has a high volume of CT, MRI or nuclear procedures, you should be studying the impact of these cuts now, says Thomas Powell, a senior consultant with Healthcare Administrative Partners in Media, PA. You may want to bring in an expert to assess your business, Powell adds.

Good advice: Know your costs for providing imaging scans in the office, advises consultant Rebecca Massey with Gates Moore & Co. in Atlanta, GA. Many physician offices don't have this information. You can't know whether you can afford to keep doing imaging scans in the office unless you understand your costs, she adds.

Patients like physician offices that can perform scans in-house because it's more convenient for them, adds Massey. So she advises practices to keep providing scans for as long as it doesn't break the bank.