Shortly after I crossed the border from Manitoba into North Dakota on Saturday morning, I saw a major billboard beside Interstate 29 that said:
MRIs, CT scans.
Don’t wait.
It then gave the name of a company in Grafton, North Dakota. This was clearly aimed at Canadians, especially Manitobans, who sometimes must wait weeks or even months for their MRI or CT scan.
I wish I had pulled over to take a picture. This billboard helped me maintain my smile.
But here’s what I found on the web, from a firm called Unity Medical Center. (This might not be the firm that advertised.)
CANADIAN PATIENTS
It is our pleasure to offer you state-of-the-art medical care here at Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota. One of the areas we specialize in is Diagnostic Imaging.
Currently, we offer MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Mammography, Dexa-scan and X-ray.
We pride ourselves on keeping wait times to a minimum, many tests can be performed within 24 hours of the initial call and nearly all tests can be performed within one week – MRIs included.
We have performed hundreds of tests for Canadian patients over the years and we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service.
The drive from Winnipeg to Grafton is 2 hours each way. We understand the wait times in Manitoba are quite long for these types of tests.
We encourage you to contact us and discuss this option with your physician and learn how quickly you can get this test completed and move on the the next phase of your treatment. The longer you wait the longer the rehabilitation process.
And here’s a news release from the Canadian Medical Association in 1997 about what appeared to be a relatively newly provided service. And here were the prices at the time:
Patients who go there will be paying from their own pocket. Although travel time isn’t onerous, the cost may deter some visitors. A CT scan costs between (US)$385 and $425, while the bill for an MRI is between (US)$400 and $690. An ultrasound costs from (US)$115 to $300.
What I like about this, besides the obvious–a freer market in health care–is that patients were paying and are paying out of their own pockets and so, as a health economist, I get a read on what prices might be like if Americans were not overinsured.
Postscript:
Check here for even lower prices (inflation-adjusted) than in 1997. Although the trip to Fargo is an extra 65 minutes.
READER COMMENTS
Alan Goldhammer
Aug 11 2021 at 8:07am
Interesting link you posted about Mobile Life Imaging. I wonder how prevalent such services are elsewhere. I don’t think there are any in our area and MRIs certainly cost more than what was posted there. Lots of ultrasounds are done in specialty doctors offices so it’s unclear what the benefit is here. The low price is likely a result of sending out the images somewhere for reading as they are easily transmitted electronically. When I had a lower back MRI done some years ago, I got the DVD of the scan right after it was finished so that’s not unusual.
robc
Aug 11 2021 at 9:34am
Based on no specific knowledge, I am guessing that Maryland has worse CON laws than North Dakota.
I also think the Surgery Center of OK would be a national chain by now if laws didn’t prevent it.
I could be wrong on both, it could be biases at work.
Floccina
Aug 11 2021 at 4:57pm
Since the Democrats are dead set against free market healthcare and Republicans are not really for it either, how about the Government funds health savings accounts for citizens and if the money is not spent the people get to keep what is in their account? So at age 18 the account is funded with $100k. If the recipient reaches age 65 and some of the money is not spent they get to keep what is left. If their medical spending goes over $100k the gov pays. Over 65 years of age it would be similar goes in 5 year chunks.
$100k may be too much or too little.
Dave Everson
Aug 15 2021 at 6:13pm
And don’t forget to get those new tires put on your car while you wait.
Comments are closed.