Understanding unique imaging center capacity
Another step to adopting the requirements in a patient-centric manner is reviewing your facilities’ capacity, as each center must determine a workflow that best serves its patient population. It is possible that breast tissue density notifications will increase supplemental imaging as more and more women understand the implications of their breast density. Health facilities must review if their imaging centers have the equipment and staffing to accommodate a potentially increased volume of supplemental exams.

Centers will also need to consider how these exams will be interpreted. Plans must be in place regarding how and when the radiologist will read these supplemental studies. There are many options such as reviewing in tandem with the patient’s screening mammographic exam, while the patient remains in the imaging center, or as a separate set of images at a different time. Additional exams also come with added billing for image acquisition and interpretation. Medical providers should work with their center’s administration team to understand billing capacity and to consider how reimbursements will impact the center. Breast imaging facilities must work to incorporate these new breast density requirements in a way that supports their workload.
Each center will need to determine how they can implement these requirements efficiently and ensure this new model of care aligns with their patient population. By reviewing the bandwidth of your health center, medical professionals can gradually make any changes over time and set themselves up to best support patients with the new MQSA requirements.

Patient considerations for accessing supplemental screening
Facilities must also consider that some patients may face barriers to accessing care and make arrangements to address these proactively. Women may not be able to take the time off work, may not have transportation, or may lack insurance coverage; all these situations will have an impact on optimal patient care. Therefore, medical professionals should be prepared to connect patients with resources to alleviate any concerns that may arise.

While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that most health insurers cover screening mammography with no out-of-pocket expenses for women ages 40 years or older, this full-cost coverage is not guaranteed to extend to supplemental screenings. For women with dense breast tissue, their health care providers may recommend supplementing mammography with whole breast ultrasound, contrast enhanced mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, or molecular imaging screening. Imaging centers should be prepared to discuss how supplemental exams are covered by major insurance providers and provide options for financial assistance. Providing resources and addressing costs ensures that each patient has access to the care that can best serve them.

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