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20/20 IMAGING PUBLISHES EDUCATIONAL PAPER TO SUPPORT PODIATRY PRACTICE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL IMAGING

November 16th, 2015

First anatomically programmed x-ray system specific to podiatry continues to set sales records

Lake in the Hills, Il. – June 20, 2016 - 20/20 Imaging, a division of Konica Minolta Medical Imaging and leader in small market imaging with nearly 4,500 installations across the country, announced today the publication of a technical paper to help podiatry practices transition from film or Computed Radiography (CR) to Digital Radiography (DR) in light of expected reimbursement penalties for film or CR users over the next several years. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, or the Omnibus Bill, includes a number of health-related provisions including a reduction in Medicare payments for imaging exams performed on analog X-ray and CR equipment.

As members of the California Podiatric Medical Association meet in Anaheim, Calif., June 23-26 for the Western Foot and Ankle Conference, attendees are seeking knowledge about key clinical and legislative developments in the field and how imaging and IT solutions can drive efficiency.

“Podiatry practices still relying on analog or CR imaging technology are going to be significantly impacted in the form of reimbursement penalties due to the recent Omnibus Bill, presenting the perfect opportunity for practices to consider the complete move to digital,” says Bob Salzman, President, 20/20 Imaging. “The educational guide from 20/20 Imaging and Konica Minolta will help podiatry offices seamlessly transition to DR in an organized and cost-effective manner.”

Provisions of the Omnibus Bill include a 20 percent reduction in the technical component reimbursement associated with film X-rays beginning next year. Technical component reimbursement for imaging services that rely on CR will be incrementally reduced by seven percent each year starting in 2018, with additional penalties planned starting in 2023. Through the bill, the government intends to encourage podiatry and other medical practices to make the transition to digital technology.

Some practices, however, are deterred by misconceptions about costliness. The new educational paper highlights various available options for DR retrofitting, leasing options, and details how the technology itself enables numerous practice benefits including:

  • Faster imaging and greater time efficiency
  • Greater clarity and diagnostic speed
  • Improved workflow
  • Competitive differentiation in the marketplace, and
  • Overall lower cost of ownership

The HF PXS-710D podiatry digital x-ray system from 20/20 Imaging is the first DR system designed specifically with advanced features for podiatry imaging, delivering high quality, dose efficiency, and operational efficiency. Patient care and practice success may be further enhanced with the SONIMAGE HS1, a hand-carried ultrasound system with a high-resolution 18 mHz transducer for superior image quality.  

“Upcoming reimbursement changes put increased pressure on podiatry practices to achieve profitability, maintain a competitive edge, and deliver a high level of care to patients,” says Salzman. “The 20/20 Imaging / Konica Minolta Omnibus campaign educates decision-makers and staff not only about the reimbursement changes legislation brings but also how DR technology delivers patient throughput efficiencies and other key results to achieve outcome goals.”

For more information about 20/20 Imaging and to see the full portfolio of solutions, visit www.2020imaging.net or visit booth #416 at the Western Foot and Ankle Conference. You can also download the Konica Minolta blue paper here: http://www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa/omnibus-information/

About 20/20 Imaging
20/20 Imaging, a division of Konica Minolta Healthcare, is a value added reseller of Healthcare IT, and digital imagingsolutions tailored for specialties such as podiatry and chiropractic medicine. Utilizing its broad Healthcare IT and imaging expertise, and new economical DR, CR and PACS solutions, 20/20 Imaging providescomprehensive digital imaging & IT solutions and services toa large variety of small to medium size clinical specialties. 

About Konica Minolta Medical Imaging
Konica Minolta Medical Imaging is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic primary imaging. With over 75 years of endless innovation, Konica Minolta is globally recognized as a leader providing cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive support aimed at providing real solutions to meet customer's needs. Konica Minolta Medical Imaging, headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a unit of Konica Minolta, Inc. (TSE: 4902).  For more information on Konica Minolta Primary Imaging Solutions, please visit www.konicaminolta.com/medicalusa.

Company name

KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Headquarters

JP TOWER, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Founded

December 1936

FY 2014  Revenue

$8.5 Billion

Number of employees

Approx. 41,600 (2015)

Business Lines

The Konica Minolta Group operates in sectors ranging from business technologies, where our products are typified by MFPs (multi-functional peripherals), and Industrial Business (former Optics Business), where our products include pickup lenses for optical disks, and TAC film, a key material used in LCD panels, to healthcare, where we make digital X-ray diagnostic imaging systems.