The freestanding outpatient imaging market--marked by continuing cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Service Technical components, narrow-provider networks, preauthorization demands and sophisticated IT requirements--remains a market susceptible to consolidation, according to Radiology Business Journal's annual report on the "20 Largest Freestanding Outpatient Imaging-center Chains."
According to the report, the 20 largest imaging-center chains include 10 imaging-center companies, six radiology practices, and four health systems.
The top five include: RadNet, CDI/Insight Imaging, MedQuest Associates/Novant Healthcare, SimonMed Imaging and Dignity Health. RadNet heads the list with 251 sites in seven states, more than twice that of its nearest rival, CDI/Insight Imaging.
According to sources interviewed for the report, the future of the outpatient imaging-center market will probably see more health systems and hospitals becoming involved in that space. Article