Archive
As a leading provider of diagnostic imaging products and medical informatics solutions, Fujifilm will meet the needs of healthcare facilities by delivering customized services, exceptional products and expertise. During this transition, Fujifilm will remain committed to continue its collaboration with customers, ensuring they maximize their investment, and have the appropriate solutions to serve their patients in need of care.
Fujifilm has several limited-time financial offers available to help transition you from CR to DR. Please contact your Fujifilm Sales Representative.
1. How will the provisions inserted into the Consolidated Appropriations Act influence healthcare providers?
In December 2015 President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. Included in the document is a special rule for diagnostic radiology that incentivizes imaging providers to adopt more advanced X-ray technology by cutting reimbursement to older technology.
Beginning in 2017, claims submitted for X-rays performed on analog equipment will receive a 20% reduction in payment. Additionally, the law phases-in Medicare payment reductions under the hospital outpatient PPS and physician fee schedule technical component for X-rays taken using computed radiography in an effort to encourage wider use of digital radiography.
Starting in 2018 through 2022, payments for X-rays taken using computed radiography will be reduced by 7 percent, with a 10 percent reduction starting in 2023. The majority of hospitals and imaging facilities that do not replace existing systems will face payment reductions.
2. How will Fujifilm support healthcare providers’ transition from computed radiography (CR) to digital radiography (DR)?
As a leading provider of diagnostic imaging products and medical informatics solutions, Fujifilm will meet the needs of healthcare facilities by delivering customized services, exceptional DR products and expertise.
We will help you assess your institution’s needs to determine the best paths to meet your financial, clinical and workflow goals. Our industry-leading products and customized pricing solutions offer exclusive ways to achieve your budgetary objectives when transitioning to DR.
For additional information, please collaborate with your local Fujifilm representative.
3. What key steps are involved in the transition to DR?
To avoid reimbursement reductions, providers who use analog or CR equipment should begin planning their transition to digital now. The following three steps can help during your transition:
- Inventory your assets and identify your analog and CR equipment.
- Assess the volume of X-ray procedures performed on equipment affected by the reimbursement reductions to calculate the financial impact to your institution.
- Develop and execute an asset plan that converts your analog and CR X-ray systems to digital.
4. How do you think the new legislation will impact providers short-term and long-term?
The short-term cost associated with accelerating a health care facility’s inevitable transition to digital radiography can be aligned with its goal of providing optimal patient care with current technology.
5. Are there any tax incentives for purchasing new digital radiography equipment?
At this time, there are no tax incentives for the purchase of new digital radiography equipment.
Sep21
Imaging Center finished!
The CMS install team just wrapped up an installation at a new Imaging Center in Montgomery County, Maryland. We just finished installing a Del Medical X-Ray system with Fuji DEVO wireless DR system. 
CMS install team just wrapped up another project. We transformed a bank vault to an X-Ray suite, the patients at this urgent care in Deptford Township, NJ will never know they’re in an old vault.
We installed a Universal Anthem system with Konica-Minolta Image Pilot CR.
DR solutions, powered by MUSICA image processing, will be showcased by Agfa HealthCare at AHRA 2016
– Award recognizes Agfa HealthCare’s “dedication to facilitating quality outcomes and improved productivity”. – Frost & Sullivan highlights the gold-standard MUSICA image processing as offering “enhanced value for customers”. – MUSICA will be a centerpiece of Agfa HealtCare’s presence at the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA) annual meeting in August 2016.
In recognition of Agfa HealthCare’s strong overall performance of its direct radiography (DR) portfolio, the company announces that it has received Frost & Sullivan’s 2016 North American Product Leadership Award for Digital Radiography. The research group said that Agfa’s “complete portfolio of digital, fixed, mobile, and retrofit DR systems, as well as impressive radiography advancements, have earned a solid reputation for service excellence and product reliability.”
A cornerstone of Agfa’s DR value proposition for customers is MUSICA. Agfa HealthCare’s radiation dose is potentially up to 60 percent lower than conventional systems when MUSICA processing is used with Cesium Bromide (CR) and Cesium Iodide (DR) detectors. MUSICA processing also enhances image quality and improves workflow. The radiation dose reduction claim has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration under the 510(k) pre-market process.
Automatic image optimization and quality control
MUSICA, which stands for Multi-Scale Image Contrast Amplification, is an image-processing algorithm that differentiates Agfa HealthCare’s DR solutions from other systems. This software optimizes and quality-controls images automatically, while competitors’ products require operators to manually adjust contrast, density, sharpness, and other elements to augment image quality.
Agfa HealthCare’s dedication to helping its customers achieve the optimum value proposition when using its products in this era of declining reimbursements will be a central theme at the industry’s next chance to see the company’s strong product line on display. At AHRA 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee, Agfa HealthCare will spotlight the wireless, mobile DX-D 100 with FreeView telescopic column. Agfa representatives will be ready to show not only how the products function within the radiology workflow, but how they can help health systems face an increasingly tumultuous economic environment for care providers. In addition to learning about productivity gains supported by MUSICA, AHRA attendees will be able to discuss how to secure funding for DR even with reduced capital budgets.
Standarized image quality, low dose imaging and best productivity
“Now in its third generation, MUSICA is the engine that generates the crisp and detailed images produced by all of Agfa HealthCare’s radiography equipment,” said Frost & Sullivan Consultant Poornima Srinivasan. “The company offers standardized image quality, low dose imaging, and the best productivity across its imaging enterprise and radiography fleet.”
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality, gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.
For its Product Leadership Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently evaluated two key factors—Product Family Attributes and Business Impact, using a customized Decision Support Scorecard. This tool allows their researchers to objectively analyze performance, according to the key benchmarking criteria, and to assign ratings on that basis.
Lenny J. Reznik, Vice President, Marketing, Agfa HealthCare North America, comments: “Agfa HealthCare is committed to making the benefits of DR available to every healthcare enterprise, regardless of size or budget. We are very proud that our efforts have been recognized by Frost & Sullivan with the North American Product Leadership Award. Our DR solutions will be among the solutions we will exhibit at AHRA 2016. We look forward to showing visitors how our comprehensive portfolio can support them to achieve higher quality images, increased productivity and a smoother, more efficient workflow.”
CMS just wrapped up another successful installation. Del Medical DFMTS system with EV-800 table, VS-300 wallstand, DFMTS tubestand, CPI 65kW H/F generator, LED collimator with Rayence Cesium DR panels. 
Today the CMS install team started a new project at a Hospital Physicians park in Anne Arundle County Maryland. We’re installing a Del Medical DFMTS system consisting of CPI 65kW High-Frequency Generator, EV800 table, VS300 wallstand, AEC, LED collimator and Dual Panel Cesium DR. 
Chesapeake Medical Systems, Inc. is pleased to announce a dealership with Spellman High Voltage. CMS is featuring their full line of High-Frequency Medical X-Ray Generators ranging from 40kW to 80kW both single and three phase input power.
More info to follow. Stay tuned.
Montgomery County orthopedic customer awarded CMS with the contract to supply them with two radiographic suites. CMS designed a department with a pair of CoRE Labs overhead tubestands, 650 lb elevating tables, 50 kW CPI High-Frequency generators paired with Fuji XL2 FDX CR systems.
The project turned out great and both teams couldn’t be happier.
CMS finishes installation of a fully automated Siemens X-Ray system with Fuji wireless DR system at a college in Maryland.
