Compensation of radiologists.

The compensation of radiologists for professional services to patients has shifted in the past half century from a strong reliance on hospital billing and payment to a pattern of financial independence of radiology groups. The laws and regulations creating the Medicare program were instrumental in spurring the transition for many. With the advent of managed care programs, employer self-insurance for health costs and pending state and federal health reform efforts, radiology compensation patterns are likely to undergo further changes to make them compatible with new payment mechanisms.