by
Diana Bradley, Staff Writer | April 19, 2012
From the April 2012 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
“My records show that a refurbished GE OEC 9800 basic system for pain management in 2008 sold for essentially the same price that such systems are selling today (approximately $85,000 with full warranty),” he says. “Also, pre-owned or refurbished systems from other manufacturers have generally held their value pretty well over the past few years.”
Possibly this is because technological advancements from the manufacturers have not been extensive enough to have a negative effect on the market for used or refurbished C-arms. In addition, facilities with reduced budgets and reimbursements are either adding used systems to save money or are keeping what they have.
Regardless of a decline in reimbursements, GIA says the C-arm market continues to remain cost-effective when compared to MRI and CT systems.
“For CT and MRI, procedures are reimbursed at a specific rate,” says GE’s Shrawder. “For C-arms, it’s the surgery itself that’s reimbursed, not necessarily the use of the C-arm. As there is pressure in surgery to reduce costs, C-arms can assist in the reduction of cost by shortening the surgery time; it has net-positive economic value when factored in.”
Lubbock Vascular Access Center’s Sebastian agrees that a new, good quality C-arm pays for itself. “If you’re not having to waste time messing around with the C-arm, if you can produce more procedures in the eight-hour time period, and if you can get better image quality — this reduces your time in the procedure room,” he explains. “I see that as an increase in reimbursement.”
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