4 ms·

I think there are perverse incentives at work, too. If running the MRI machine cost $100, people would do it. If it can bill insurance $100k, and then any follo

I think there are perverse incentives at work, too. If running the MRI machine cost $100, people would do it. If it can bill insurance $100k, and then any follow up might cost $500k, there is a rational aversion to doing it as it might make the _system_ less good for everyone if insurance cracked down on exploratory imaging as a billable thing (obviously, they already do this to some extent). Better technology is unlikely to be cheaper, unless it is so new and novel that it can get its own unique billing codes, and if it becomes ubiquitous so it cheaper and more available than existing machines which are not yet depreciated. Just typing that out depresses me.

D_Alex 7y ago
>If running the MRI machine cost $100, people would do it. There are different kinds of MRIs, but the actual direct costs for running an MRI without preparatory procedures is around $100 (preparatory dye injection may be another $50 cost). Marginal costs are lower still. See also here: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545569 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545... https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/interviews/ikegami.html https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/...
- flemhans 7y ago
  If you would like a $100 scan, you can do it in Romania. <http://www.hiperdia.ro/servicii-medicale/> http://www.hiperdia.ro/servicii-medicale/> It's a modern 1.5T MRI.