Radiologists Fear Universal Healthcare
Already handicapped by closer third-party-payer scrutiny of rising imaging
costs, many radiologists fear the additional, potential effect of universal
healthcare coverage on their medical practices. More than half (52 percent) of
radiologists responding to a recent radiologist salary survey conducted by
physician recruiting firm LocumTenens.com said universal healthcare would
negatively affect their personal incomes.
Among almost 200 radiologist salary survey respondents, 39 percent indicated
such a policy would have no effect on their earnings. Only 9 percent thought
universal healthcare would positively affect their personal incomes.
LocumTenens.com Executive Vice President Katie Thill points out that today's
radiology practices are being threatened "from all sides." She suggests that,
probably more than other specialists, radiologists are continually caught
between payers' need to control costs and skyrocketing practice
expenses-especially considering the growing costs of necessities like new
technology and liability protection.
Among radiologist respondents to a healthcare reform survey conducted earlier
this year by LocumTenens.com, 42 percent offered negative comments about
universal healthcare's potential effect on physicians' practices. Those
comments highlighted potential downsides like greater bureaucracy and
regulation, lower quality services, decreased reimbursement and access
challenges.
However, some respondents to the survey were open to the prospect of universal
healthcare coverage:
- "It's the right thing to do no matter what the effect on my income, but I think
it will help my private practice."
- "Universal healthcare would reduce my income in the short term. But the longer
term effect would be good, since the current system isn't sustainable."
- "Such a large portion of our practice is 'no pay' that I believe the overall
effect would be helpful."
While more than a quarter of responding radiologists (27%) reported earning less
income in 2007 than in 2006, 73 percent said their 2007 income was greater than
(44%), or about the same as (29%), their income in 2006.
Based on LocumTenens.com survey responses, the 2008 annual diagnostic
radiologist salary averaged $367,907.70, roughly a 7-percent increase over an
average $343,330 for respondents to the 2007 LocumTenens.com survey.
Thirty-three percent of 2008 respondents were in private practice and 27
percent were employer-based, while 28 percent reported working on a locum
tenens or contract basis exclusively.
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