Practical Tips regarding MRI'S
If you are billing PIP insurance and referring for MRI’s here are some practical tips to avoid getting sued by an insurance company.
1. Stay away from MRI Centers that only have an “Open MRI” machine:
- When you hear “open MRI” I want you to think “this machine hasn’t been made since the year 1999.” Then I want you ask yourself, would you watch your favorite show on a TV from the year 1999. The technology from 1999 really sucks compared to today’s technology.
- Did you know that open MRI machines were largely discontinued around 1999 because they miss a large number of injuries to the shoulder/knees/joints? The image quality is too grainy to pick up many of the ligaments in the joints. I thought you sent patients for an MRI because you wanted to find out if they had injuries…not to miss them.
2. Stay away from mobile MRI machines.
The day of the mobile MRI in Florida is gone. Insurance companies presume the only people using mobile MRI machines are illegally paying for scans. I can throw a rock and hit three MRI centers anywhere in Florida. Why does a mobile MRI center need to be driven across state to scan patients at an auto accident clinic?
Insurance companies have sued doctors for referring every patient for MRI’s on the first visit. They say that the patient wasn’t given a chance to fail conservative care and that they might not have incurred the bills had the patient been given a couple of weeks of therapy.
4. Make sure you document why they need an MRI/X-Ray
Write down in your patient chart why you are sending for an MRI/x-ray. Include the date you referred them for the MRI/X-Ray.