RadNet inks AI deal with 1 of Southern California’s largest health networks
RadNet Inc. has inked an artificial intelligence deal with one of Southern California’s largest health networks, the imaging center operator announced Wednesday.
Under the agreement, three affiliates of the Heritage Provider Network will reimburse RadNet for its Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection program. First launched in 2023, EBCD charges women an extra $40 to have AI read over their mammograms, providing an extra layer of protection.
Based in Northridge, California, Heritage Health Network is a large, integrated provider group focused on value-based care, serving nearly 600,000 plan members. One of the largest doc-owned medical groups in the region, affiliates involved in the RadNet deal include Regal Medical Group, Lakeside Community Healthcare and the ADOC Medical Group.
EBCD will now be included as a benefit in members’ health plans as part of the pact, RadNet said.
“We continually seek ways to bring leading-edge solutions to patient care. EBCD will increase early cancer detection in addition to traditional radiologist screening, eliminating multiple radiology visits and positively impacting patient outcomes,” Will Jukes, senior VP of regional operations at Regal Medical Group, said in a July 9 announcement. “The collaboration with RadNet will also focus on increasing annual compliance with screening mammography guidelines. Bringing this unique breast cancer screening program to our members is illustrative of our commitment to providing new and leading-edge medicine.”
The three medical groups—spanning Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties—will now provide AI-backed breast cancer services to all mammogram-eligible patients. RadNet also will launch a patient-outreach program to boost screening compliance. This will include contacting patients to remind them about appointments and encouraging them to attend.
The company said it believes this partnership “is indicative of EBCD reimbursement traction RadNet is getting with commercial payers.” Leaders earlier this year predicted insurers will begin covering the AI program by 2026 amid such momentum.
“We are excited that Regal Medical Group, Lakeside Community Healthcare and ADOC Medical Group are now offering this program to all of their eligible female patients,” RadNet CEO Howard Berger, MD, said in the announcement. “We recognize their commitment to provide innovative solutions to their patients and expect that they will pave the way for other significant payers to include EBCD in their benefit plans.”
Along with offering imaging AI solutions, the Los Angeles-based company is one of the largest providers of freestanding, fixed-site diagnostic imaging services in the U.S. RadNet now operates approximately 400 outpatient centers concentrated in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.