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.

Rethinking contrast media deployment could save healthcare system billions
“By integrating ICM stewardship into clinical practice and strategic planning, radiology can take meaningful steps to leading healthcare sustainability efforts," experts write in JACR.
Hospital giant expands homegrown outpatient imaging center chain into new state
Intermountain's Tellica Imaging is opening three new locations across Washington state in partnership with 13-hospital, Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System.
Duke Health, Aetna reach agreement to keep members in-network
The new contract was signed just ahead of the Oct. 20 deadline. The insurer and academic health system were in dispute over reimbursement rates. The exact terms of the new multi-year agreement are unknown.
ACC and AHA outline calculation of cost-effectiveness in clinical practice guidelines
Healthcare's cost-conscious environment prompted the ACC and AHA to develop a statement on the value methodology to be used when creating clinical practice guidelines.
Emergency departments’ use of CT imaging has increased substantially since 2013
This uptick was attributed to more scans being administered per ED visit, rather than a rise in overall patient volumes, an analysis of Medicare data found.

Investor-backed diagnostic imaging provider Affidea scores $216M in growth capital

The radiology group executed 14 acquisitions last year, adding 24 new imaging centers to its network for a total of 355.

Radiology Partners’ restructuring reduces its debt by 20% or $600M, Moody’s estimates

That would leave RP’s current obligations at about $2.4 billion, with debt maturities now extended by several years.

RadNet enters first new market since 2020, acquiring 7 imaging centers

The M&A deal is with Houston Medical Imaging, which performed over 135,000 procedures last year, producing $28M in revenue.

Lawsuit accuses radiology AI vendor MIM Software of patent theft

Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. claims MIM stole its patents and used them to help entice GE HealthCare to buy the company in January.

Policy advisors: America’s ‘crisis in rural maternity care’ cries out for attention

Maternity care is in danger of vanishing from rural communities across the U.S., and two addressable if not reversible trends largely account for the peril.

Heart surgery prices vary from one part of the US to the next

Researchers explored the costs associated with CABG at more than 500 U.S. hospitals.

Carrie Redick RN MSN NEA-BC, director of interventional cardiology and structural heart, Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System, explains the need for financial literacy among structural heart program directors at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular therapeutics (TCT) 2023 meeting.

Why financial literacy is so important for structural heart program directors

Carrie Redick, an ICU nurse for nearly 20 years, said understanding more about financial data improved her ability to acquire funding and other resources for her program when necessary.

Senators press congressional leaders to address radiologist Medicare pay cut

“After three consecutive years of Medicare payment reductions, healthcare providers are at a breaking point," 32 bipartisan members of the Senate wrote recently.

Economics

Rethinking contrast media deployment could save healthcare system billions

Hospital giant expands homegrown outpatient imaging center chain into new state

Duke Health, Aetna reach agreement to keep members in-network

ACC and AHA outline calculation of cost-effectiveness in clinical practice guidelines

Emergency departments’ use of CT imaging has increased substantially since 2013