2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF COMBINATION – Under Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X, RadNet, Inc. is permitted to file combined financial statements for individually significant unconsolidated joint ventures which are in the same line of business. The combined financial statements include the assets, liabilities, and operations of each member of the Group. The operating activities of each of these joint ventures are completely separate from one another and are in no way affiliated with one another. Accordingly there are no intercompany transactions and balances to be eliminated when combining each together.

USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions affect various matters including the Group’s reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the combined balance sheets at the dates of the financial statements; disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements; and reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the combined statements of income during the reporting periods. These estimates involve judgments with respect to numerous factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond management’s control. As a result, actual amounts could materially differ from these estimates.

REVENUES – Combined service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts, consists of net patient fees received from various payors and patients themselves based mainly upon established contractual billing rates, less allowances for contractual adjustments and discounts. This service fee revenue is earned through providing the use of diagnostic imaging equipment and the provision of technical services as well as providing administrative services such as clerical and administrative personnel, billing and collection, provision of medical and office supplies, secretarial, reception and transcription services, maintenance of medical records, and advertising, marketing and promotional activities.

The Group's combined service fee revenues are recorded during the period the services are provided based upon the estimated amounts due from patients and third-party payors. Third-party payors include federal and state agencies (under the Medicare and Medicaid programs), managed care health plans, commercial insurance companies and employers. Estimates of contractual allowances are based on historical collection rates of pre-determined payment rates specified in the related contractual agreements. The Group also records a provision for doubtful accounts (based primarily on historical collection experience) related to patient financial responsibility including copayment and deductible amounts for patients who have health care coverage with third-party payors.

The Group’s service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts less the provision for bad debts for the years ended December 31, are summarized in the following table (in thousands):

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(unaudited)
Commercial Insurance	$	36,911		$	37,384		$	38,846
Medicare		12,322			12,003			12,472
Medicaid		1,980			1,872			1,945
Workers' Compensation/Personal Injury		2,805			2,643			2,746
Other		990			1,156			1,201
Service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts		55,008			55,058			57,210
Provision for bad debts		(2,824	)		(2,832	)		(2,777	)
Net service fee revenue	$	52,184		$	52,226		$	54,433

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - Substantially all of the Group’s accounts receivable are due under fee-for-service contracts from third party payors, such as insurance companies and government-sponsored healthcare programs, or directly from patients.  Services are generally provided pursuant to one-year contracts with healthcare providers. The Group continuously monitors collections from payors and maintains an allowance for bad debts based upon specific payor collection issues that have been identified as well as historical collection experience.

PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS - Although outcomes vary, the Group’s policy is to attempt to collect amounts due from patients, including co-payments and deductibles due from patients with insurance, at the time of service. The Group provides for an allowance against accounts receivable that could become uncollectible by establishing an allowance to reduce the carrying value of such receivables to their estimated net realizable value. The Group estimates this allowance based on the aging of accounts receivable by each type of payor over a minimum 18-month look-back period, and other relevant factors. A significant portion of the provision for bad debt relates to co-payments and deductibles owed to the Group by patients with insurance. There are various factors that can impact collection trends, such as changes in the economy, which in turn have an impact on the increased burden of co-payments and deductibles to be made by patients with insurance. These factors continuously change and can have an impact on collection trends and the Group’s estimation process. The combined allowance for bad debts at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $365,000 (unaudited) and $351,000, respectively.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISKS - Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to credit risk are primarily cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Each joint venture places its cash and cash equivalents with a financial institution. At times, the cash in the financial institution is temporarily in excess of the amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. Substantially all accounts receivable are due under fee-for-service contracts from third party payors, such as insurance companies and government-sponsored healthcare programs, or directly from patients. Services are generally provided pursuant to one-year contracts with healthcare providers. The Group continuously monitors collections from its clients and maintains an allowance for bad debts based upon any specific payor collection issues that are identified and historical experience.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – The Group considers all highly liquid investments that mature in three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair market value.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT – Property, furniture and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization of property, furniture and equipment are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, which range from 3 to 15 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized at the shorter of the related lease term or their estimated useful lives which range from 3 to 30 years.

GOODWILL – Combined goodwill of the Group at December 31, 2015 totaled $9.9 million (unaudited). Goodwill is recorded by each member of the Group as a result of business combinations. Management of each member of the Group evaluates goodwill, at a minimum, on an annual basis and whenever events and changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.   Each member of the Group evaluated its respective share of the combined goodwill at October 1, 2015 for signs of impairment under the provisions of ASU 2011-08. By utilizing certain qualitative measures outlined in the guidance, each member determined that its respective share of the combined goodwill was not impaired.

INCOME TAXES - Each member of the Group is treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes where all taxable income is allocated to the partners in accordance with the respective partnership agreement and so accordingly federal and state taxes on income are the responsibility of the joint venture partners individually.  Accordingly, no income tax provision is recorded by any joint ventures in the Group.

Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities, and include all returns for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2012, for federal returns and December 31, 2012, for Maryland returns. The Group has no examinations in process and has not been notified of any future examinations at this time. Management of each member of the Group has reviewed all open tax years and major jurisdictions, and has not recorded an unrecognized tax benefit relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in future tax returns. The Group has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken.

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS –The combined balance sheets include the following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, receivables, trade accounts payable, capital leases, equipment notes payable and other liabilities. The Group considers the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets and current liabilities to approximate their fair value because of the relatively short period of time between the origination of these instruments and their expected realization or payment. Additionally, the Group considers the carrying amount of its equipment notes payable and capital lease obligations to approximate their fair value because the weighted average interest rate used to formulate the carrying amounts approximates current market rates.