Health Care Reform Efforts
Washington Managed Imaging (WMI) is forward thinking in its approach to clinical integration of
imaging services within the full spectrum of patient care. When managed care prospered
in Washington State, WMI contracted with full-risk capitated Medical Services Organizations and
Primary Care Provider-based Independent Practice Associations, creating a bond of both clinical
and financial integration to benefit managed care patients. As our nation's health care reform
efforts evolve into new structures, such as Accountable Care Organizations, WMI's members' previous
managed care experience has prepared us well to provide the most appropriate care in the most efficient
setting with the best outcomes.
Decision Support
With a focus on managing the proliferation of imaging services and minimizing radiation exposure,
WMI has been at the forefront in advocating the implementation of Decision Support with commercial
and government payers. Decision Support is a provider-centric process for ensuring that the
imaging modality with the highest medical utility score is chosen, which may include no imaging services
at all. The Decision Support process is supported by software containing thousands of
evidence-based rules that is utilized by the referring provider and the radiologist to generate
an instant medical utility score. In addition to the many clinical and financial benefits Decision
Support offers to patients and to payers, it is a highly effective educational tool for referring
physicians, enabling them to better understand which imaging modalities to utilize.