FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Trysla
(202) 756-3420
WASHINGTON, DC - April 19, 2007 - The Access to Medical Imaging Coalition (AMIC) today released the following statement from its Executive Director, Tim Trysla, on publication in Health Affairs of a new study on leasing of medical imaging equipment:
"We look forward to reviewing and commenting on the article in Health Affairs on equipment leasing and are hopeful that the author will release the underlying study data so that her peers can replicate her analysis. Since its inception, AMIC has worked with policymakers with the goal of ensuring appropriate utilization of medical imaging services. Unfortunately, the Health Affairs article does not offer any data on the appropriateness of the imaging procedures it analyses — which is the key to crafting responsible and sustainable policies on access to medical imaging services.
Without having access to the author's data, it is impossible to know if the conclusions she has drawn are reflective of the facts. However, if the arrangements described in the Health Affairs article are in violation of federal or state law, those violations of the law should be prosecuted.
AMIC looks forward to continuing to work with the Congress to enact a reasonable Medicare imaging policy that preserves and strengthens beneficiary access to the right imaging procedure at the right time."