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.

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Patient-radiologist consultations, held in reading room after lung cancer screening, show promise

Conversations last 10 minutes or less, with specialists providing a preliminary interpretation of imaging findings in conjunction with smoking cessation counseling. 

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CMS steps up its game on value-based care communications

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched a website breaking down the basics of value-based care. The site is suitable for educating healthcare consumers and professionals alike.

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Hospitals enter 2024 nurturing marginally healthy margins

Anemic post-pandemic operating margins probably won’t cause nonprofit hospitals to suffer credit downgrades “en masse.”

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AHA prez: Upside to Congressional can-kicking is ‘more time to tell the hospital story and educate lawmakers’

As Congress negotiates reimbursement rates, Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, is urging lawmakers to halt any further payment cuts that could compromise patient care and hospital services nationwide. 

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Lower shift volumes lead to significantly fewer errors for neuroradiologists

When case volumes climb to 67-90 studies, error rates were 226% higher than those tackling 19 or fewer cases during their shift, experts reported. 

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State’s largest insurer lifts prior authorization requirement for MRI, steers patients to single provider

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont recently announced the new partnership with Open MRI, noting that it provides exams four times cheaper than other facilities. 

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Florida cardiology practices unite with help from private equity-backed cardiovascular group

The two neighboring practices have joined forces to provide improved cardiovascular care for patients throughout the Sunshine State. 

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S&P plans to reclassify Radiology Partners’ debt as ‘distressed’

The agency downgraded certain notes to “CC,” indicating the obligations are “highly vulnerable” to nonpayment, with default “expected to be a virtual certainty.”