Site-of-Care Shift to Outpatient Imaging Accelerates
The migration of diagnostic imaging procedures from hospitals to freestanding and mobile settings continues to be a defining trend in 2026. A recent market analysis highlights that health systems are responding by acquiring or developing their own outpatient assets to capture referrals. Payer policies that incentivize lower-cost care settings are a primary driver of this shift.
- The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is set to decrease overall revenue for diagnostic radiology by an estimated 2% and reduce indirect practice expense RVUs in hospital settings, further incentivizing the shift to non-facility locations which are expected to see a reimbursement increase. - The global mobile imaging services market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.11% between 2025 and 2035, driven by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the cost-effectiveness of mobile services compared to fixed facilities. - In response to the outpatient shift, major health systems are forming joint ventures with established operators; for instance, BJC HealthCare and Piedmont recently partnered with Outpatient Imaging Affiliates (OIA) to develop and expand their freestanding imaging networks. - A persistent radiologist shortage continues to strain imaging providers, with a 48% increase in new job listings noted in a recent two-year period, driving the adoption of teleradiology and other technological solutions to manage workload. - The adoption of artificial intelligence is accelerating, with more than 1,000 AI-powered tools now having received FDA clearance for use in radiology, a number that has more than doubled since early 2023. - Major imaging center operators are actively consolidating the market, such as RadNet's recent acquisition of seven outpatient centers in Phoenix through its joint venture, Arizona Diagnostic Radiology Group. - While PET imaging is projected to see the highest volume growth by 2029 (at 8%), the "No Surprises Act" continues to impact reimbursement by creating a federal arbitration process for out-of-network payment disputes, which can lower payments from insurers and increase administrative costs for practices. - In January 2026, the FDA cleared a comprehensive AI triage solution from Aidoc powered by a foundation model, which can identify 11 acute conditions from an abdomen CT scan, representing a significant technological step in improving workflow and patient triage in emergency and outpatient settings.
