Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

MGMA warns of government overreach in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The Medical Group Management Association shares concerns about the draft fee schedule published in July. A major concern is the government possibly changing how RVUs are set, rather than allowing the medical specialty representatives to have a say.
Median medical school debt among radiology-bound graduates is $200,000
This figure fell by 19.4% in 2024, from a peak indebtedness of $237,600 as of 2015, researchers wrote Thursday.
3 key questions about private equity’s impact on radiology
“Some radiologists harbor deepening concerns about these trends, including moral distress," two members of the specialty write in JACR.
House lawmakers criticize Medicare pay model targeting ‘wasteful’ interventional radiology services
CMS is seeking to cut unnecessary use of certain IR services in Medicare, such as image-guided decompression of the spine, epidural steroid injections and percutaneous vertebral augmentation.
Cook Medical hopes new iMRI division could be ‘game changer’ for interventional radiology
The Bloomington, Indiana-based vendor is betting big on MRI's use in image-guided care, touting its ability to cut radiation exposure while bolstering precision.

Cardiologists received $1.3B in industry payments over 10-year period, No. 3 among all healthcare specialties

Only orthopedic surgeons and neurologists/psychiatrists received more industry payments from 2013 to 2022 than cardiologists. Also, the two prescription medications associated with the most physician payments were a blood thinner and an anticoagulant.

Hospital giant to expand homegrown outpatient imaging chain that offers flat-rate MR and CT

First launched in 2021, Tellica Imaging has aimed to capitalize on the industry's shift away from hospitals to less costly freestanding sites

Radiology groups slam UnitedHealthcare decision they say was inspired by ‘science-harvesting mercenaries’

UHC has labeled an IR service docs have been delivering for 9 years as “unproven and not medically necessary due to insufficient evidence of efficacy."

UnitedHealth’s Optum to acquire 9-state multispecialty radiology provider

Dallas-based Steward Medical Group spans 450 practices, employing over 1,700 providers including 180-plus radiologists.

Medicare money payment reimbursement dollar decline george washington

Imaging’s total share of US healthcare spending plummets as others record gains

The percentage of patients who received imaging services also declined from 46% in 2010 down to 40% by 2021, experts wrote in Health Affairs Scholar.

Phoenix Radiology inks deal with critical access hospital after previous imaging partner departs

Clarkston, Washington-based TriState Health had worked with Twin Cities Radiology for 25 years, with the practice ending the relationship due to retirement.

Report: Johnson & Johnson once again considering deal to acquire Shockwave Medical

Healthcare giants Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic were all reportedly interested in acquiring Shockwave Medical in 2023. Now, new rumors suggest a deal could be finalized within weeks.

Auburn University SIemens 7T magnetom scanner

University charts a world’s first with clinical use of new $9M 7T MRI system

The Siemens Magnetom scanner utilizes dedicated radiofrequency sodium coils and parallel transmit technology—a “stark” difference from older models

Economics

MGMA warns of government overreach in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Median medical school debt among radiology-bound graduates is $200,000

3 key questions about private equity’s impact on radiology

House lawmakers criticize Medicare pay model targeting ‘wasteful’ interventional radiology services

Cook Medical hopes new iMRI division could be ‘game changer’ for interventional radiology