eli5: if an operational cost of an MRI scan is $50-75, why does it cost up to $3500 to a patient?

Question

Explain like I’m European.

In: Other

Answer 1

OR nurse here. You’re not just paying for turning on the machine, there is an entire team that operate and interpreters the results that you’re also paying for, as well as paying for use of the MRI suite itself. So you are paying for the time spent in the room; cost of the MRI technicians and for the Radiologist’s reading of the scan.