“The effect of the MRI-CON requirement is to prevent (Singh) from acquiring a fixed MRI scanner to provide safe, quality, affordable MRI scans to patients who need them, solely because incumbent providers got there first,” his lawsuit reads in part. “Therefore, the MRI-CON requirement, both on its face and as applied, grants certain health-care providers a monopoly in violation ... of the North Carolina constitution.”

Since he’s not allowed to purchase an MRI machine himself, Singh rents one a day or two per week. It’s an expensive proposition. “For what I pay in a year to lease it, I could buy one outright,” he said.

For the time being, he’s waiting on the courts. Until then, Singh will stick close to his business model with general and laparoscopic surgery and providing imaging scans as CTs, ultrasounds and X-rays.

Modern marketing

He pulls up on his iPhone video from his YouTube channel — yes, you read that correctly — that shows footage of his staff attempting to get answers about prices from hospitals and billing offices.

He charges $400-$600 for a CT, $199 for an ultrasound. Elsewhere, who knows? Ever read a medical billing statement?