Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

Optum Rx outlines changes to PBM business model, promising price transparency
The company made the changes after its manufacturer rebates for insulin were challenged by the Federal Trade Commission. Among other shifts, Optum said 100% of all rebates will be distributed to customers by 2028.
Heartflow reports significant revenue growth as CCTA sees wider adoption
The company keeps gaining momentum thanks to the success of its AI-powered imaging software.
Bill in Congress would rein in PBMs, force divestment from pharmacies
The Patients Before Monopolies Act was introduced into both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with bipartisan support. If it passes, pharmacy benefit managers would be required to divest from retail stores.
CMS pauses new Medicare hospice and home health provider entries for six months
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it’s issuing a nationwide moratorium on new providers entering the spaces until it has a chance to look into allegations of fraud, waste and abuse. It confirmed investigations of various organizations are pending.
Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time
The days when most doctors worked in independent practice settings are fading from memory like old photoprints in a musty scrapbook.

4 increasingly common uses for imaging AI in the ED

As FDA-approved AI software continues to proliferate in radiology—well more than 150 products to date and rising—a trio of Yale radiologists has compiled a status report focused on AI applications available to, specifically, emergency radiology.

Deep learning expedites normal findings on ultrafast breast screenings

AI can safely and accurately identify healthy breast tissue on ultrafast breast MRI, negating the need for a radiologist’s closer look and, in the process, lowering cancer screening costs and widening patient access to breast MRI.

New MRI technique a ‘virtual biopsy’ for surveilling transplanted hearts

Researchers have developed a novel cardiovascular MRI protocol as an option to the invasive gold standard, endomyocardial biopsy, for monitoring heart-transplant patients at risk of suffering organ rejection.

Some 78% of parents OK with AI reading their child’s chest X-rays

The reception was similarly warm among parents toward AI used to assess a child’s need for antibiotics or bloodwork.

Primary care POCUS on the Old Continent: Guidance needed, but at least 1 use case deemed ‘useful and feasible’

Two European studies illustrate opportunities and challenges presented by the growing appeal of point-of-care ultrasound to primary care practices.

Pulmonary embolism AI cleared

A Silicon Valley AI shop has been OK’d by the FDA to market software that automatically flags suspected pulmonary embolisms (PEs) and immediately notifies physicians.

FDA posts guidance on managing risk of drug shortages

The Food & Drug Administration has drafted guidelines to help U.S. healthcare better prepare for and respond to events associated with these situations.

Claims review may guide evidence-based approach to contrast-shortage mitigation

Iodinated contrast is most widely used in patients undergoing CT studies for, in descending order, abdominopelvic, chest, head/neck and brain indications.

Business Intelligence

Optum Rx outlines changes to PBM business model, promising price transparency

Heartflow reports significant revenue growth as CCTA sees wider adoption

Bill in Congress would rein in PBMs, force divestment from pharmacies

CMS pauses new Medicare hospice and home health provider entries for six months

Consolidation of physician practices proceeds apace, corporatizing medicine one acquisition at a time