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.

Physicians speak out against payers’ growing use of AI to deny imaging requests
Heart imaging specialists contend that the deployment of artificial intelligence "is making the issue of prior authorization worse, not better."
Private equity firm Nordic Capital invests in imaging research outfit
Minerva Imaging has experienced "rapid growth" in recent years amid rising demand for precision medicines, collecting 2024 revenue of $35 million.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech faces threat of permanent injunction after losing antitrust case
After being ordered to pay $442 million in damages—a ruling the company has said it may appeal—Johnson & Johnson MedTech is now facing the possibility of a permanent injunction that could impact certain business practices. A hearing is scheduled for July.
American College of Radiology joins legal fight against NIH cuts
ACR and 10 other medical societies filed a “friend of the court” brief in an ongoing lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health, HHS and their leaders.
Eliminating extra fee for 3D mammography bolsters utilization, though disparities persist
Experts believe this new research offers important insights as practices adopt artificial intelligence in breast imaging, often with an extra out-of-pocket fee.

Be prepared: IV contrast media shortage could last up to 8 weeks

All formulations and concentrations of GE Healthcare’s Omnipaque (iohexol) are expected to be in short supply until mid-June due to COVID lockdowns where the contrast is manufactured.

Alice L. Walton Foundation to help launch new health system

The Alice L. Walton Foundation has teamed up with Washington Regional Medical System to create a new health system in Northwest Arkansas. Alice Walton is the only daughter of Sam Walton, who founded Walmart.

Engagement down among healthcare workers

Amid a tight labor market and nationwide labor shortage, healthcare organizations already have their work cut out when it comes to filling vacant roles and retaining staff.

Margins are improving, but hospitals face a long road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

Hospital and health systems saw incremental economic improvements in March, with rising margins and fewer COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Unpaid student loan debt is bad for the heart

An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study highlights higher rates of cardiovascular disease for adults who fail to pay down student debt.

FDA clears spinal-tap test that could challenge PET in Alzheimer’s diagnostics

The FDA has approved a lab test for evaluating cognitively impaired adults who may be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Foot ultrasound bested foot MRI on pooled sensitivity while lagging on specificity

MRI beats ultrasound at grading common foot injury, but tables turn for up-or-down diagnostics

Injuries of the plantar plate—the cluster of ligaments underneath the four smaller “knuckles” of the toes—are better assessed with MRI than with ultrasound scans.

Best and worst states for nurses in 2022

Not all states are equal when it comes to the best places to work as a nurse.

Economics

Physicians speak out against payers’ growing use of AI to deny imaging requests

Private equity firm Nordic Capital invests in imaging research outfit

Johnson & Johnson MedTech faces threat of permanent injunction after losing antitrust case

American College of Radiology joins legal fight against NIH cuts

Eliminating extra fee for 3D mammography bolsters utilization, though disparities persist