MITA Issues Statement on JACR Radiology Benefit Managers Study

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) issued the following statement today in response to the study, “Radiology Benefit Managers (RBMs): Cost Saving or Cost Shifting” that was published in the June 2011 issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR):

MITA applauds the authors of “Radiology Benefit Managers (RBMs):  Cost Saving or Cost Shifting” for uncovering the hidden costs of RBMs and contributing to the growing body of evidence surrounding the economic impact of prior-authorization programs.  Relying on RBMs to conduct prior authorization for advanced imaging increases costs, the burden on physicians and red tape, and can also cause delays in treatment.  In light of the ongoing threats to patient access, policymakers should not add barriers to care for patients who are in need of medical imaging services.  Physicians should be equipped with tools, such as physician-developed appropriateness criteria, to guide them in making optimal medical decisions for their patients.