Billing

Please refer to CAMRIS SOP 101: Scheduling, Billing, and Occupancy of CAMRIS MRI Scanners by Research Protocols for our scheduling and billing policy.

CAMRIS Billing Overview 

CAMRIS utilizes a billing tool developed by the Path Bio Resource (PBR) group, referred to as the CAMRIS Billing Tool (aka PBR). In PBR, Business Administrators (BAs), Principal Investigators (PIs), and Lab Managers can view CAMRIS protocols, review invoices, link funding accounts, and add or remove study team members. CAMRIS collaborates with the PBR team to generate invoices for CAMRIS services. Invoices are emailed to study teams on a monthly basis. 

Billing Rates 

CAMRIS operates on a fee-for-service basis designed to cover actual costs associated with conducting MR research scans. Billing for scanner usage is based on hourly rates. Protocols that use ancillary equipment or specific services are billed per-session fees. For our current rates, please refer to the CAMRIS Rate Schedule. 

Requesting Invoice Corrections 

To request a correction to a CAMRIS charge on an invoice, please file a ‘Request Invoice Correction’ ticket with the CAMRIS Help Desk. Attach the relevant invoice as well as other supporting documents that demonstrate why a correction is warranted. CAMRIS will review each request to determine appropriate action. 

Linking Funding in PBR 

All CAMRIS protocols must have an active funding source linked in PBR. It is the responsibility of the departmental BA, PI, or Lab Manager to ensure funding is properly linked.   

Instructions for how to modify your funding source in PBR are available here: 

• How to Add or Change Funding Source in PBR 

Radiology Research Billing and PennChart

CAMRIS is a Radiology service center. While CAMRIS invoices study teams outside of PennChart through the PBR billing tool, there are steps that must be taken within PennChart to ensure charges are properly routed. The study team must properly associate the patient and encounter with the correct research protocol. The study team must also enter the appropriate research modifier(s) to the order for all radiology research service center procedures. The RES modifier must be used for all CAMRIS orders to suppress the service center charge from being billed through UPHS. The BSA modifier should be used if/when all charges are being billed to the study and therefore do not require prior authorization.

Instructions for using PennChart research modifiers are available here:

• Using the RES Modifier: Ordering Radiology Service Center Procedures
• Using the BSA Modifier: Research Radiology Order Bill to Study

PennChart Research Billing Review

Research billing review is required for all PennChart studies and is managed by the Office of Clinical Research (OCR) Finance department. Study teams must identify a ‘responsible biller’ who has taken the ‘PennChart Training for Research Billing’ virtual class. This individual will review all study charges and escalate anything incorrectly showing up for the patient in PennChart billing. For example, if your order includes Gadolinium, the contrast agent may still appear on the PennChart research billing review report. This charge will need to be escalated and voided so your study is not double billed. For additional information related to the financial management of an active clinical research study, see: Research Billing in PennChart | Penn Medicine Clinical Research. 

Instructions for PennChart research billing escalation are available here:

• Research Hospital Billing Escalation Tipsheet
• Research Professional Billing Escalation Tipsheet