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Originally Posted by Bobblehead
Why was a machine, for which it seems there is so much demand, sitting unused for so long?
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With imaging delays (CT, MRI, etc.), the problem is often due to a lack of technical staff who can operate the machines, interpret the results, etc... or a lack of funding to pay these people. The demand for medical imaging has exploded, and so has the demand for trained technical personnel... but there just aren't enough people (and enough money... not sure which is the bigger issue) to make full use of these machines... so they sit empty, and patients wait...
The advent of "private imaging" centres (like Canada Diagnostic) has only HURT this problem in my opinion, as they are able to offer more competitive wages to the limited number of MRI/CT techs and thus lure them from the "public system". The sad thing is that some hospitals in Canada are contracting out their unused MRIs/CTs to private clinics during evenings and weekends... further compounding their own problems.
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I've heard that doctors have limits set on the amount of time that they are allowed to bill for. Does anyone know about this?
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That is correct, although the rules vary widely by province and speciality, and have been changing with all the public pressure on wait-times. Essentially, physicians often have annual limits on the amounts that they can bill in a given year. The problem usually arises when a specialist sees a large amount of complex cases, which have higher "reimbursement rates", and thus cause the physician to reach their annual limit before 12 months. Usually, the physician will plan his/her practice appropriately... however I know a couple of guys who will practice for 9 or 10 months, then vacation until the new fiscal year. Dumb, isn't it? Fortunately, I think this is changing for the better due to increased public pressure.