DALLAS, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Radiologix, Inc. (Amex: RGX), a
leading national provider of diagnostic imaging services, today provided an
update on the impact of federal legislation on its Medicare reimbursement.
On February 8, 2006, the President signed into law the Deficit Reduction
Act of 2005 (DRA). The DRA provides that reimbursement for the technical
component for imaging services (excluding diagnostic and screening
mammography) in non-hospital based freestanding facilities will be capped at
the lesser of reimbursement under the Medicare Part B physician fee schedule
or the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) schedule.
Currently, the technical component of our imaging services is reimbursed
under the Part B physician fee schedule, which generally allows for higher
reimbursement than under the HOPPS. Under the DRA, we will be reimbursed at
the lower of the two schedules, beginning January 1, 2007.
The DRA also codifies the reduction in reimbursement for multiple images
on contiguous body parts previously announced by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS). In November 2005, CMS announced that it will pay
100% of the technical component of the higher priced imaging procedure and 50%
for the technical component of each additional imaging procedure for imaging
procedures involving contiguous body parts within a family of codes when
performed in the same session. Under current methodology, Medicare pays 100%
of the technical component of each procedure. CMS will phase in this rate
reduction over two years, so that the reduction will be 25% for each
additional imaging procedure in 2006 and another 25% in 2007.
We believe the implementation of the reimbursement reductions contained in
the DRA will have a significant effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, Medicare revenue from our
imaging centers represented approximately 26% of our total revenue from our
imaging centers. If both reimbursement reductions contained in the DRA had
been in effect during fiscal year 2005, we estimate that our Medicare revenue
would have been reduced by approximately $13.3 million. The estimated future
reduction in revenue and pre-tax earnings from the reimbursement changes
contained in the DRA is as follows:
Estimated Reduction in Revenue and Pre-Tax Earnings from DRA
(In thousands of dollars)
2006 2007
Contiguous Body Parts $ 1,900 $ 2,900
Fee Schedule Change $ 0 $ 10,400
Total $ 1,900 $ 13,300
These estimated reductions do not assume any impact from our
unconsolidated joint ventures and do not include any reductions that would
result if commercial payors adopt reimbursement reductions similar to those
contained in the DRA. We have been notified by one payor that it will adopt
the contiguous body part imaging reduction in 2006. If commercial payors
adopt reimbursement reductions similar to those contained in the DRA, this
would result in additional reductions in our estimated revenue and pre-tax
earnings that could be much greater than the reductions shown above, leading
to a further material and substantially negative effect on our business.
About Radiologix
Radiologix (http://www.radiologix.com) is a leading national provider of
diagnostic imaging services, owning and operating multi-modality diagnostic
imaging centers that use advanced imaging technologies such as positron
emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed
tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine, as well as x-ray, general radiography,
mammography, ultrasound and fluoroscopy. The diagnostic images created, and
the radiology reports based on these images, enable more accurate diagnosis
and more efficient management of illness for ordering physicians. Radiologix
owned or operated 72 diagnostic imaging centers located in 7 states as of
December 31, 2005.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking
statements include words such as "may," "will," "would," "could," "likely,"
"estimate," "intend," "plan," "continue," "believe," "expect" or "anticipate"
and other similar words, and include all discussions about our acquisition and
development plans. We do not guarantee that the events described in this
press release will occur as described, or that any positive trends noted in
this press release will continue.
These forward-looking statements generally relate to our plans, objectives
and expectations for future operations and are based upon management's
reasonable estimates of future results or trends. Although we believe that
our plans and objectives reflected in, or suggested by, such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we may not achieve such plans or objectives. You
are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when
evaluating the information presented in this press release. You should read
this press release completely and with the understanding that actual future
results may be materially different from what we expect. We will not update
forward-looking statements even though our situation may change in the future.
Specific factors that might cause actual results to differ from our
expectations include, but are not limited to:
* economic, demographic, business and other conditions in our markets;
* the highly competitive nature of the healthcare business;
* changes in patient referral patterns;
* changes in the rates or methods of third-party reimbursement for
diagnostic imaging services;
* changes in our contracts with radiology practice groups;
* changes in the number of radiologists operating in our contracted
radiology practice groups;
* the ability to recruit and retain technologists;
* the availability of additional capital to fund capital expenditure
requirements;
* lawsuits against Radiologix and our contracted radiology practice
groups;
* changes in operating margins, particularly changes due to our managed
care contracts and capitated fee arrangements;
* failure by Radiologix to comply with state and federal anti-kickback
and anti-self referral laws or any other applicable healthcare
regulations;
* changes in business strategy and development plans;
* changes in federal, state or local regulations affecting the healthcare
industry;
* our indebtedness, debt service requirements and liquidity constraints;
* risks related to our Senior Notes and healthcare securities generally;
* interruption of operations due to severe weather or other extraordinary
events; and
* charges for unusual or infrequent (non-recurring) matters.
A more comprehensive list of such factors is set forth in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2004, and our
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such
statement is made. The information in this press release is as of February 9,
2006. Radiologix undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement or statements to reflect new events or circumstances or future
developments.
SOURCE Radiologix, Inc.
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Related links: http://www.radiologix.com
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CONTACT: Paul R. Streiber, Investor Relations of Radiologix, Inc., +1-214-303-2702, or paul.streiber@radiologix.com
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