Question

Jasmine Gonazles, Administrative Director of Small Imaging Center, has been asked by the practice members to see if it is feasible to add more staff to support the practice's mammography service, which currently has (2) analogue film or screen units and (2) technologists. She has compiled the following information to help make the decision:

Reimbursement per mammography $75
Equipment costs per month $1600
Technologist cost per mammography $20
Technologist aide cost per mammography $4
Variable cost per mammography $10
Monthly maintenance per machine $700

1. What is the monthly patient volume needed per month to cover fixed and variable costs?

2. What is the monthly patient volume needed per month if Small Imaging Center desires to cover its fixed and variable costs and make a $5,000 profit on this equipment to cover other costs associated with the organization?

3. If reimbursement decreases to $55 per screen, what is the monthly patient volume needed to cover fixed and variable costs but not profit?

4. If a new technologist aide is hired in addition to the two technologists, what is the monthly patient volume needed at the original reimbursement rate to cover variable costs, but not profit?

Answer 1

Working:

Reimbursement per mammography (A)	75
Technologist cost per mammography	20
Technologist aide cost per mammography	4
Variable cost per mammography	10
Total Variable Cost per Mammography (B) = (A) - (B)	34
Contribution per Mammography (C ) =	41
Equipment costs per month	1600
Monthly maintenance cost (700*2)	1400
Total Monthly Fixed Cost	3000

1. What is the monthly patient volume needed per month to cover fixed and variable costs?

Solution:

Monthly patient volume needed per month to cover fixed and variable costs = Total Monthly Fixed Cost/ Contribution per Mammography

= 3000/41

= 73.17

= 74 patients

2. What is the monthly patient volume needed per month if Small Imaging Center desires to cover its fixed and variable costs and make a $5,000 profit on this equipment to cover other costs associated with the organization?

Solution:

Monthly patient volume needed per month if Small Imaging Center desires to cover its fixed and variable costs and make a $5,000 profit on this equipment to cover other costs associated with the organization

= (Monthly Fixed Cost + Desired Profit) / Contribution per Mammography

= (3000 + 5000)/41

= 8000/41

= 195.122

= 196 patients

3. If reimbursement decreases to $55 per screen, what is the monthly patient volume needed to cover fixed and variable costs but not profit?

Solution:

If reimbursement decreases to $55 per screen , new contribution per mammography

= 55-34

=$21 per mammography

Monthly patient volume needed to cover fixed and variable costs but not profit

= Monthly Fixed Cost/ New Contribution per Mammography

= 3000/21

= 142.857

= 143 patients