Insurers hire radiology police to vet scanning

Wall Street Journal (subscription required), November 6, 2008

An increasing number of health insurers are relying on outside firms to make doctors justify costly imaging scans like MRIs. The health plans say they want to ensure that doctors use high-tech scans only when it is clear that patients will benefit. Some doctors say the review procedures of so-called radiology-benefit managers can result in delays or rejections that sometimes pose risks for patients.