In 2007, CMS implemented a new program aimed at eliminating fraud and abuse: the use of Medicare recovery audit contractors (RACs). Under the RAC program, independent contractors look for improper Medicare payments in exchange for a percentage of the overpaid or underpaid dollars discovered, resulting in a high level of scrutiny for Medicare

Over the past few years, hospitals have been acquiring imaging centers at a brisk pace. Hospital and imaging-center transactions require an independent opinion on fair market value to ensure regulatory compliance; a thorough fair-market analysis will incorporate macroeconomic industry trends, along with the facts and circumstances specific to the

Interventional-radiology departments are facing increasing demands to justify costs, measure outcomes, and prove value in a competitive clinical environment. Though they are often managed alongside their diagnostic-radiology counterparts, the reality is that interventional-radiology departments have more in common with cardiac catheterization,

Over the past year, I have written about some of the key indicators pointing to a maturing of the medical-imaging marketplace. Among these is the fact that consolidation is accelerating across virtually all sectors of the profession: radiology groups, hospitals, health systems, vendors, and payors. Consolidation not only is a factor that affects

Stryker Corp. subsidiary Stryker Navigation has partnered with the Danvers, MA-based portable CT maker, NeuroLogica to produce an integrated surgical navigation unit for its BodyTomTM 32-slice CT scanners.

A new study by Georgetown's Dr. Jean Mitchell shows that self-referral for prostate biopsy pathology evaluations has increased Medicare billing, but has not improved cancer detection.

This week, the DHSS announced proposed rule changes to HIPAA that "would save health care providers and health plans up to $4.6 billion over the next ten years," according to a statement.

The poaching of Philips Healthcare CEO Steve Rusckowski by Quest Diagnostics this week cleared the way for the Dutch manufacturer to promote from within.