Prices of cardiac imaging systems fall—for now

The average cost of cardiac cath lab imaging systems fell to about $885,000 over the past year, but the cost decreases will most likely be short-lived, according to the Modern Healthcare/ECRI Institute Technology Price Index.

The index provides monthly and annual price data for approximately 30 supply and capital items purchased by hospitals and other healthcare providers, based on three-month rolling averages.

The average cost of biplane systems, which are usually more expensive than single-plane systems, has increased slightly, while the cost of single-plane systems has dropped, according to Robert Bense, clinical manager for ECRI's healthcare technology advisory membership service.

While ECRI's data shows that the average cost of cath lab imaging systems fell 24% over the course of 2012, the decrease can more likely be attributed to a recent uptick in the number of prices quotes for lower-cost single-plane systems rather than a downward trend in price, Bense noted.

“The mix of facilities purchasing different models and configurations, along with the numerous hardware and software options that are available on each model, make it difficult to draw any clear conclusions,” he said in an e-mail.

The cost range for single-plane systems is about $900,000 to $1 million, while the range for biplane systems is about $1.5 million to $1.9 million.

Bense later said that there is growing interest in high-end single-plane systems that are used in hybrid operating rooms or cath labs. Those models can cost up to $1.9 million.