title: How radiologists get paid: resource-based relative value scale and the revenue cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To learn the impact of health care reform, it is important for radiologists to first understand basic administrative aspects of medicine. This article describes the processes of radiology billing, reimbursement, and the revenue cycle, which includes the importance of proper coding, the resource-based relative value scale, and accounts receivable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of the basics of medical practice management can help radiologists effectively provide optimal patient care. This article provides an overview of one component of this topic--the current radiology reimbursement system.
authors.affiliation: 1 Both authors: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Mailbox 358280, Seattle, WA 98195.
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Medverd
mesh_terms: D000067:Accounts Payable and Receivable; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000191:economics; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics; D010350:Patient Credit and Collection / Q000191:economics; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics; D011871:Radiology / Q000191:economics*; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits