High-risk breast cancer clinics are no longer just a good idea – they’re becoming a strategic imperative. These programs, focused on identifying and managing women at elevated risk for breast cancer, are proving their value clinically and financially.
For imaging providers, they present an opportunity both to improve care and grow service lines in a value-based care environment, while also differentiating themselves in increasingly competitive markets. A recently published white paper offers a full explanation of the benefits of high-risk breast clinics.
Treating late-stage breast cancer is extremely costly – $76,000+ in the final year of life alone – and it represents a major portion of oncology spend nationwide.
- By identifying high-risk patients early and offering enhanced surveillance with breast MRI, clinics can diagnose more cancers at early stages, when treatment is more effective and less expensive.
Studies show MRI screening in BRCA1 carriers is cost-effective at ~$50,900 per QALY.
- This makes it a smart investment from both a patient and payor perspective.
Historically, preventive programs were considered cost centers. Not so with high-risk breast clinics.
- Once a patient is flagged as high risk, the care pathway includes reimbursable genetic counseling and testing, supplemental imaging (MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography), biopsies, chemoprevention, and even risk-reducing surgeries. Each step creates downstream revenue for imaging centers and affiliated specialists – all while improving patient care.
Integration is key. Embedding risk assessment tools like Tyrer-Cuzick or AI-based models (e.g. Mirai) into the high-risk clinic’s imaging workflow enables automatic triage.
- Patients with ≥20% lifetime risk can be directly referred to the high-risk clinic. Some models now use short-term risk from imaging data alone to identify the top 5-10% women most likely to develop cancer within five years – significantly outperforming traditional tools in clinical studies.
Successful clinics rely on multidisciplinary teams. Advanced-practice providers manage most visits. Genetic counselors – in person or via telehealth – manage testing results and family history. Patient navigators coordinate follow-ups and authorizations.
- This team-based approach keeps physician time focused and costs under control, ensuring the clinic operates efficiently and sustainably.
The Takeaway
For imaging providers, high-risk breast clinics offer a powerful blend of patient impact and business growth. They reduce expensive late-stage cancers, drive high-value imaging, and create long-term patient relationships. In an era of value-based care, they’re not just a clinical upgrade – they’re a strategic advantage. Forward-thinking imaging leaders are recognizing this model as essential to the future of preventive breast care.
