Covera Health to vet prostate MRI providers for ‘Radiology Centers of Excellence’

Covera Health, a startup focused on rooting out misdiagnoses in imaging, has announced plans to expand its “Radiology Centers of Excellence” into prostate MRI. 

The New York-based healthcare analytics company first launched the program in 2019, partnering with employers such as Walmart, along with providers, and health plans (including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan). Today, the COE platform now supports “millions of covered lives nationwide,” steering individuals to top radiology providers. 

Now, Covera Health wants to grow the effort into prostate MRI, beginning in 2026. The company is now beginning to onboard “qualified imaging providers,” ahead of a full-scale rollout in Q1.

"Prostate MRI is now a critical decision point in cancer care, yet how and where it's performed continues to vary widely,” CEO Ron Vianu said in a statement May 8. “It's not just about the cost of one exam—it's about how that exam sets off a chain of clinical decisions. Our prostate COE program is built to address this head-on, ensuring every patient receives high-quality imaging and expert interpretation at the start of their care journey."

Covera said the new program will plug directly into care navigation and prior authorization workflows. The company is now accepting applications from imaging providers who want to become designated Prostate Imaging Centers of Excellence. Those interested can contact [email protected]. Covera plans to expand its centers of excellence into other areas next year, including breast, abdominal and chest imaging. Ahead of the launch, it is reviewing applications and working with payers and employers “to ensure members are aware of this radiology quality network.” 

As proof of the model’s success, Covera cited a 2024 analysis reviewed by consulting and actuarial firm Milliman. It found that patients who received imaging at Covera-approved centers saw up to 12% lower downstream healthcare costs. 

“These savings are driven by improved diagnostic accuracy—reducing misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions, as well as unit cost savings through Covera's high value network,” the company said in the announcement. 

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of the disease in men, with 314,000 new cases expected in the U.S. this year, Covera noted. Recent guidelines recommend an MRI prior to biopsy, which has caused a “rapid increase in the number of prostate MRIs being performed” and resulting “surge” in biopsies. The exam remains “technically challenging,” with adherence to care standards varying “significantly.” 

“Given the significant variability in imaging quality across the country, initiatives like this are critical to ensuring that every patient receives the highest standard of care,” Matthew Davenport, MD, a professor of radiology with the University of Michigan, said in the same announcement. 

Covera Health said the new prostate program will be automatically activated for its employer and health plan customers beginning in early 2026. When a referrer orders a prostate MRI, patients will be directed to a facility that meets “rigorous quality standards for both image acquisition and interpretation.” The prostate COE program will operate through the same infrastructure, with no additional contracting or integration. 

Covera first launched in 2017 and raised a $50 million through a Series C financing round in 2023.