Why Are Pediatric MRI Costs Increasing?

To better cope with the stress and anxiety of the patients most facilities use anesthesia for pediatric scans.

A recent study by Partners for Kids organization studied thousands of cases from 2011 to 2014 to better understand the cost breakdown for pediatric MRI scans. During this period, there was an increased need for anesthesia, increasing from roughly 22% to 33% in scans. 

 The process of getting an MRI can be scary for a young person. And it is difficult for them to stay still for up to 45 minutes while the MRI scan completes. A lot of medical facilities end up using powerful sedatives to avoid this problem. And with more anesthesia needs, the cost of MRI scans goes up.

Getting an MRI scan is expensive because the technology costs a lot to produce and maintain. A new MRI machine costs around 1.5 to three million dollars. Then the MR suite, which is the room where the MRI scanner is stored, has to be built. Everything needs to be RF shielded with a special coating to keep the magnetic waves from interfering with the other medical devices and vice versa. There have to be three rooms, one for the control room, one for the MRI machine, and one for the system components. There absolutely cannot be any metallic objects inside.

Many hospitals and imaging centers charge a fee to use the MRI scanner. They also have to pay a health technology professional to complete each scan. If they use radiology dye then you have to pay for that. The use of anesthesia is another charge of about $300 to $1,000, depending on the type used.

Another way to reduce stress and anxiety during pediatric MRI scans is with the Sound Imaging MRI Visor. Young patients can watch a soothing video in an immersive headset environment, reducing the need to give them drugs.