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.

EP advocacy group details 6 key policy issues
The Heart Rhythm Society's advocacy arm is monitoring such issues as prior authorization, outpatient payment policies and cancelled research funding.
Consolidation, competition, consumer costs: Healthcare econ experts break it all down, make it make sense
Market forces like competition cannot stem the urge to merge among and between payers and providers, so neither will they staunch the price hikes in premiums.
MGMA outlines path and pitfalls in CMS 2030 value-based care push
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has tested nearly 40 APMs, of which only two turned out to be successful, which does not bode well for meeting a 2030 deadline to transition to value-based payments.
Not all AI is created equal—experts caution against 'useless' applications
“If we are not careful, we run the risk of spending more time admiring these novelty-driven tools than advancing the real frontiers of radiology.”
Cardiology practice, cardiologists pay $4.75M to resolve DOJ fraud allegations
The physicians allegedly performed medically unnecessary ablation procedures as part of a years-long fraud scheme.

Interventional radiology group inks 3 more urology practice partnerships across 3 states

IR Centers, a platform company dedicated to offering minimally invasive procedures in diverse outpatient settings, is teaming with doc groups in Alabama, Texas and Virginia.

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California leads coalition of 20 states suing Trump over $100K H-1B visa policy

The plaintiffs argue that the administration has overstepped its authority and that only Congress can levy such hefty fees. As noted in the lawsuit, healthcare relies on skilled labor immigration to bring doctors, nurses and researchers into the country.

Philips to acquire AI-enabled intravascular imaging specialists SpectraWAVE

Massachusetts-based SpectraWAVE has gained considerable momentum in recent years, planting its flag in some of cardiology’s biggest trends. The company was co-founded by cardiologists and has already secured multiple FDA clearances.

Richard Heller, MD, MBA, FACR, senior vice president of health policy at Radiology Partners, and involved in policy advocacy with the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), explains the key policy issues impacting radiology, including the CMS efficiency cuts and unfair policies by Anthem insurance.

Radiology policy shifts threaten patient access and physician sustainability

Radiology Partners' Richard Heller, MD, MBA, outlined several mounting policy pressures providers face heading into 2026.

Arnold Seto, MD, MPA, FACC, FSCAI, cath lab director, Long Beach VA Medical Center, professor of medicine at Charles Drew University, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) treasurer and chair of the SCAI Advocacy Committee, explains changes in payment policy are making ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and office based labs (OBL) more attractive to both cardiologists and larger health systems.

More interventional procedures may be coming to an ambulatory surgical center near you

ASCs have their limitations, but they are also associated with several benefits for cardiologists and patients alike.

AI-powered FFR-CT software linked to considerable cost savings, accurate predictions

According to Heartflow, its AI offering saves health systems nearly $1,400 per patient thanks to reductions in unnecessary cardiovascular testing.

Lumexa Imaging raises nearly $463M from successful IPO

“Going public is not a finish line. It’s the beginning of our next chapter,” CEO Caitlin Zulla, MPH, said in prepared remarks Dec. 11.

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News gems: Hospital price caps, costly drinking water, child-unready hospitals, more

A U.S. state is enjoying $50 million in annual savings after imposing price caps on its hospitals. OK—but what good things (or workers) got sacrificed?

Economics

EP advocacy group details 6 key policy issues

Consolidation, competition, consumer costs: Healthcare econ experts break it all down, make it make sense

MGMA outlines path and pitfalls in CMS 2030 value-based care push

Not all AI is created equal—experts caution against 'useless' applications

Cardiology practice, cardiologists pay $4.75M to resolve DOJ fraud allegations