Press Release from FIPO and AIR on the BMI Hospital Group’s Decision to Standardise Consultant Radiologist Fees across the UK.

January 2009

BMI have unilaterally introduced a standardised consultant fee schedule for all non-invasive radiological procedures. They have justified their actions simply by saying that the insurance reimbursement for MRI has fallen. It is understood that certain insurers (not all) have forced down the price of MRI scans and in this situation it would seem reasonable for the consultant radiologist to take a proportional cut in fees similar to the hospital.

This BMI tactic of a general reduction in consultant fees, however, appears to be a blanket proposal covering all insurers and all routine x-rays and scans; the implication is that the company will be profiting at the expense of their radiologists. Previously fee structures were agreed locally and reflected local conditions. This variation means that consultants will be affected to a greater or lesser degree by the BMI cutbacks. Nevertheless there has been widespread concern expressed by BMI consultants.

This action by BMI is the first time that a major hospital group has attempted to control consultant fees. This tactic serves as a warning to all consultants who value their independence (particularly, but not exclusively, to those in other service specialties such as anaesthetics) that any external body be it hospital, insurer or broker who sets their fees will ultimately profit from this. All these schemes break the contract between the patient and the consultant which we consider paramount.

Dr Phil Shorvon
Chairman of AIR (Association of Independent Radiologists)
07801 151748

Mr Geoffrey Glazer
Chairman of FIPO (Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations)
0207 222 0975