At the Intersection of Health, Health Care and Policy Cite this article as: Christiane Shah Price Transparency: The Author Replies Health Affairs, 33, no.11 (2014):2082 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1099
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Health Affairs is published monthly by Project HOPE at 7500 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-6133. Copyright © 2014 by Project HOPE - The People-to-People Health Foundation. As provided by United States copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code), no part of Health Affairs may be reproduced, displayed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or by information storage or retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved.
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doi:
10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1099
Price Transparency: The Author Replies Jonathan Flug raises some compelling questions about price transparency for magnetic resonance imaging in his letter about our article (Aug 2014). My coauthors and I agree that “defining quality in diagnostic imaging is…complex.” This is why AIM Specialty Health, the company that developed the transparency program, focuses on collecting factual information to assess site capabilities. AIM developed its algorithms for each type of diagnostic image in consultation with nationally renowned imaging experts. The goal was to provide ordering physicians and members of the health plans that we serve with accurate and current capability and cost information about imaging facilities and contracted imaging providers. Contracted imaging facilities report to AIM Specialty Health information about themselves on roughly two hundred points. A facility’s score 1 is determined primarily by the credentials of the staff, both the physicians who read the images and the technicians who operate the equipment. The quality
2082
H e a lt h A f fai r s
of the equipment; the accreditation status of the facility; and data on general quality control, patient safety, and access are all reflected in the algorithm. The employees of AIM understand and share the concern that many providers have about remaining independent, outside of a hospital system. AIM’s program can help providers remain independent because it can increase volume at traditionally lowercost freestanding imaging centers. My coauthors and I also agree with Flug that “identifying high-quality appropriate imaging should be the central goal.” That goal is advanced by AIM’s programs. In addition, AIM’s transparency program promotes access to affordable health care for members, a goal that we should all work together to achieve. Christiane Shah AIM Specialty Health CHICAGO , ILLINOIS NOTE 1 AIM Specialty Health. Understanding the provder registration scorecard [Internet]. Chicago (IL): AIM; [cited 2014 Aug 21]. Available from: http:// www.aimspecialtyhealth.com/Resources/ documents/AIM_OptiNet_ScorecardFAQs.pdf
November 2014
33:11
Downloaded from content.healthaffairs.org by Health Affairs on May 3, 2015 at NYU LANGONE MED CTR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is available at: http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/33/11/2082.1.full.html
For Reprints, Links & Permissions: http://healthaffairs.org/1340_reprints.php E-mail Alerts : http://content.healthaffairs.org/subscriptions/etoc.dtl To Subscribe: http://content.healthaffairs.org/subscriptions/online.shtml
Health Affairs is published monthly by Project HOPE at 7500 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-6133. Copyright © 2014 by Project HOPE - The People-to-People Health Foundation. As provided by United States copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code), no part of Health Affairs may be reproduced, displayed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or by information storage or retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved.
Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution Downloaded from content.healthaffairs.org by Health Affairs on May 3, 2015 at NYU LANGONE MED CTR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Letters There is a limit of 300 words for letters to the editor. Health Affairs reserves the right to edit all letters for clarity, length, and tone. Letters can be submitted by e-mail, [email protected], or the Health Affairs website, http:// www.healthaffairs.org.
doi:
10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1099
Price Transparency: The Author Replies Jonathan Flug raises some compelling questions about price transparency for magnetic resonance imaging in his letter about our article (Aug 2014). My coauthors and I agree that “defining quality in diagnostic imaging is…complex.” This is why AIM Specialty Health, the company that developed the transparency program, focuses on collecting factual information to assess site capabilities. AIM developed its algorithms for each type of diagnostic image in consultation with nationally renowned imaging experts. The goal was to provide ordering physicians and members of the health plans that we serve with accurate and current capability and cost information about imaging facilities and contracted imaging providers. Contracted imaging facilities report to AIM Specialty Health information about themselves on roughly two hundred points. A facility’s score 1 is determined primarily by the credentials of the staff, both the physicians who read the images and the technicians who operate the equipment. The quality
2082
H e a lt h A f fai r s
of the equipment; the accreditation status of the facility; and data on general quality control, patient safety, and access are all reflected in the algorithm. The employees of AIM understand and share the concern that many providers have about remaining independent, outside of a hospital system. AIM’s program can help providers remain independent because it can increase volume at traditionally lowercost freestanding imaging centers. My coauthors and I also agree with Flug that “identifying high-quality appropriate imaging should be the central goal.” That goal is advanced by AIM’s programs. In addition, AIM’s transparency program promotes access to affordable health care for members, a goal that we should all work together to achieve. Christiane Shah AIM Specialty Health CHICAGO , ILLINOIS NOTE 1 AIM Specialty Health. Understanding the provder registration scorecard [Internet]. Chicago (IL): AIM; [cited 2014 Aug 21]. Available from: http:// www.aimspecialtyhealth.com/Resources/ documents/AIM_OptiNet_ScorecardFAQs.pdf
November 2014
33:11
Downloaded from content.healthaffairs.org by Health Affairs on May 3, 2015 at NYU LANGONE MED CTR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
