Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
-
To study growth trends in the ownership of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations by nonradiologist physicians who either own the equipment outright or are involved in scan leasing arrangements. ⋯ In the private-office setting in 2005, radiologists performed most MRI examinations. However, the growth rate from 2000 to 2005 among nonradiologist physicians was far higher, 254% compared with 83% among radiologists. Because scans performed by nonradiologists through ownership or leasing are subject to self-referral, the much more rapid growth among those physicians should be of concern to policymakers and payers.