Industry expert examines whether radiology AI should be free or bundled with imaging services.
Key Details
- 1Some large radiology groups currently charge patients an extra $40 for AI second opinions in breast imaging.
- 2The U.S. market features over 600 FDA-cleared imaging AI vendors; about three-quarters may not survive long-term.
- 3Conventional x-ray AI is expected to cost under $5 per case, and CT under $20 per case, as reimbursement pressures increase.
- 4AI add-on reimbursement like NTAP initially offered high returns (up to $1,000/study), but few vendors qualified and payouts were often far lower.
- 5Bundling AI costs within PACS or study reimbursement, rather than separate line items, is proposed as the likely future model.
- 6Industry debate centers on fairness, transparency, standard of care, and return-on-investment for both AI companies and radiologists.
Why It Matters
As AI grows integral to diagnostic imaging, determining who pays and how access is managed raises practical and ethical issues for radiology departments, vendors, and patients. Bundled reimbursement models and the evolving standard of care may shape the future landscape of imaging AI adoption and sustainability.
Source
AuntMinnie
Related News
•Radiology Business
FDA Clears Multi-Disease AI Screening Platform for CT Imaging
HeartLung Corporation's AI-CVD platform receives FDA clearance to detect multiple diseases from a single CT scan.
•AuntMinnie
Deep Learning AI Outperforms Radiologists in Detecting ENE on CT
A deep learning tool, DeepENE, exceeded radiologist performance in identifying lymph node extranodal extension in head and neck cancers using preoperative CT scans.
•AuntMinnie
AI Projected to Reshape Radiologist Workload But Not Eliminate Jobs
Stanford researchers predict AI could reduce radiologist hours by up to 49% over the next five years, though workforce size is likely to remain stable due to rising imaging demand.