Bibb Allen MD, Moderator: Nothing to Disclose

Geraldine B. McGinty MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

James A. Brink MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

1) Recognize the major economic, political and practice issues facing the specialty of radiology. 2) Analyze the federal policy, private payer, health system and consumer initiatives that are signaling the shift away from volume driven transactional medical care toward value driven care and reimbursement models. 3) Describe point-of-care patient centric tools radiologists can use to bring value based radiological care into routine clinical practice. 4) Formulate strategies to position their community based or academic practices in a position to adapt and succeed in evolving value based reimbursement models. 5) Explain how aligning incentives between all stake holders is required to achieve the goals of health reform and how to be vocal supporters of our profession.

Because of changing federal policy and reimbursement models, the next five years may be the most tumultuous for medicine and our specialty since the adoption of Medicare. Leaders in organized radiology are working to place our specialty in the best possible position, but we face complex issues requiring complex and potentially counterintuitive solutions. Strategic decisions made by our organizations need to be informed by and have buy-in from those in the trenches of clinical practice. The imperatives of health reform and the dynamic shift from volume based transactional care to value based population care are creating the critical issues facing our specialty. In this roundtable session, we discuss a number of the critical issues facing our practices and discuss proactive strategic initiatives that can empower radiologists to transition from volume based to value based care and position their practices to succeed in the new paradigm. While integral to providing optimal radiological care, the value of the interpretations we provide will ultimately be taken for granted by our systems and policy makers. In order to provide additional value we must look beyond just the value of our interpretations. By engaging in the care prior to and following image interpretation, radiologists can improve individual patients’ safety, outcomes and engagement as well as improve population health. This measurable role for radiology in providing cost effective care will increase our relevance to the healthcare system beyond image interpretation. Participants can share their ideas and concerns with leaders in organized radiology as well as take away a number of tools they can use in their practices to begin or enhance the shift to value based care. Using these strategies, radiologists can leverage the value they create to enhance their position in their health systems and your professional organizations can leverage that same value with policy makers to impact federal health policy.

Allen, B, McGinty, G, Brink, J, Critical Issues Facing the Practice of Radiology in 2015 and Beyond: A Roundtable with ACR Leaders (In Conjunction with the American College of Radiology).  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/8000293.html