MINNEAPOLIS, Updated 2:13 p.m. CST January 12, 2007 -- Controversy is heating up over Medica’s new requirement for a consultation before doctors can order high tech imaging. Park Nicollet Health Services has sent a letter to Medica informing them that they are opting out of the program, and instead will implement a computer-based system to assist doctors with imaging decisions that should be available by summer.

Park Nicollet’s letter asks for patience while they implement "an efficient and proven tool" for ordering and reviewing high-tech images. "We are not willing to waste valuable clinical and administrative resources to comply with an administrative process that is woefully inefficient and has not been shown to add value to the patient or payer of services," Park Nicollet CEO David Wessner said in the letter to Medica, as reported in the Star Tribune yesterday.

The Institute for Clinical Systems (ICSI) has established a working group of doctors and insurers to develop a uniform process for ordering evidence-based high-end imaging. It is hoped this would eliminate the consultation requirement.

The MMA Board of Trustees is reviewing the situation and will have a response prepared later in the month. Right now we’d like to hear your experiences with high tech imaging consultations. How long does the process take? How much of a hassle has it been? How has it affected your ability to help your patients? Please email your experiences to MMA CEO Robert Meiches, M.D.

Click here to read the Star Tribune article.

MMA story: Medica targets high tech scans, December 15, 2006