AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition for
Ethical Imaging (CEI), a grassroots coalition with the goal of
improving diagnostic imaging practices in Texas, is supporting
House Bill 1809, sponsored by Representative Senfronia Thompson.
The bill includes several initiatives that will help rein in
healthcare costs in the state while ensuring patient safety.
CEI’s membership includes radiologists and other medical
professionals, members of the business community interested in
abating escalating healthcare costs, and other interested Texans.
The Coalition consists of 23,000 Texans and more than 120,000 Texas
businesses, including the Texas Association of Business, Texas
Association of Health Plans, Texas Radiological Society, Texas
Society of Radiologic Technologists and the Texas Chapter of the
Radiology Business Managers Association.
The Coalition supports legislation in the 82nd Texas Legislature
that will ensure that specific diagnostic imaging services in the
state are safe, appropriately prescribed and performed, and cost
effective. The group focuses its efforts on magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and positron emission
tomography (PET). CEI’s scope does not include X-rays, ultrasound
or mammography.
An Interim Report released in December by the House Committee on
Public Health supports many of the Coalition’s recommendations
regarding advanced diagnostic imaging in the state. The Interim
Committee was charged with identifying factors influencing
healthcare cost trends in Texas, which included investigating
medical imaging utilization and its impact on the cost and quality
of healthcare.
The Interim Committee report found that “increased utilization
of imaging equipment has played a major role in the increase of
healthcare expenses, especially when imaging equipment owners have
been found to over-utilize their own equipment.”
Key issues of concern to the Coalition that will be includ
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