Intermountain launches outpatient imaging business

Dive Brief:

• Intermountain Healthcare is launching an outpatient imaging business, Tellica Imaging, that will open three standalone locations later this year, the system announced Monday.
• Intermountain plans to expand Tellica’s footprint over the next few years with as many as five locations planned for next year, with more to come after that, the Salt Lake City-based health system said.
• The strategy is to provide standalone imaging centers closer to where people live, providing easier access to these services in non-emergency situations. The centers will focus on providing MRIs and CT scans at “flat-rate prices” that “fall below the costs” in hospitals, the system said.

Dive Insight:

Insurers have targeted hospital-based imaging services for their high prices and have issued policies to shift care away from pricey hospitals and instead to freestanding facilities. 

UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Anthem have all taken…

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