During the fiscal year of 2010, self-referrals amounted to over $109 million dollars in extra payments from Medicare, which equates to approximately 400,000 diagnostic imaging examinations for seemingly arbitrary purposes.

Self-referral leads to more images, more treatment, more surgeries, etc., and contributes to the escalation in the unsustainable rising health-care costs. It is a vicious cycle. So why not just eliminate self-referral?

Policymakers should be aware that even well-informed patients with good access to primary care need the ER. Legislation should aim to increase availability of primary care, but not penalize for use of emergency services.

Money may not be the driving force behind increased medical imaging, according to new research that finds imaging, even when provided through HMOs whi...

Patients should always ask who is performing, reading and interpreting their imaging studies? Collaboration between radiologists and clinicians have the greatest potential for diagnosis and treatment.