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.

Imaging-guided surgery startup Method AI raises $20M in Series A financing
Founded in 2021 as a spinoff of the Cleveland Clinic, its platform leverages continuous 3D ultrasound and AI-generated surgical plans to guide robotic-assisted procedures.
MGMA raises alarm over 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, warns of access crisis
Many make federal reimbursement plans into an issue about high-paid specialists complaining about pay cuts, but these fees also compensate nurses, technicians, support staff and administrators. Payment keeps the doors of brick-and-mortar medical practices open, MGMA warns.
American College of Radiology criticizes BCBS affiliate’s reimbursement policy change
Effective Feb. 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is no longer issuing separate payment for 3D rendering of imaging services (covered by CPT codes 76376 and 76377).
Ultrasound after negative CT scan offers little benefit in emergency gynecological care
“Clinicians should carefully weigh the additional resource utilization against the potential benefit," Yale University emergency medicine experts write in JACR.
Pioneering private practice and its 68 physicians join Strategic Radiology
North Carolina-based Eastern Radiologists announced the move on Tuesday, marking the 46th practice to join SR and eighth in the Tar Heel State.

Contrast shortage update: Supplies could continue to lag until September

GE previously indicated that the iodinated contrast shortage would resolve by the end of June.

Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes payment cuts

The CMS proposal was met with immediate criticism from the American Medical Association.

California will make its own insulin to increase affordability

The plan will allow California to offer insulin at a cheaper price, “closer to cost,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a video announcement on Twitter July 7.

CT contrast shortage seen as amplification, continuation of deep-set dynamics

The shortage of iodinated contrast media that has rattled U.S. radiology since early May didn’t come from nowhere.

Job cuts on the rise among healthcare workers

The healthcare industry was among those with the most cuts across the entire economy.

POCUS access: Urban oases, rural deserts

Fewer than 40% of rural counties in the U.S. can offer residents any access to point-of-care ultrasound, while nearly 90% of their metropolitan counterparts have POCUS aplenty.

Pop-up assessment reduces unnecessary use of head CTs in pediatric trauma settings

The alerts resulted in an overall reduction of CT scans—down to 29.8% from 38.6%—and increased PECARN guideline adherence.

Francisco Partners completes $1B buyout of IBM Watson Health

Francisco Partners will keep the business as a standalone entity under the moniker Merative.

Economics

Imaging-guided surgery startup Method AI raises $20M in Series A financing

MGMA raises alarm over 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, warns of access crisis

American College of Radiology criticizes BCBS affiliate’s reimbursement policy change

Ultrasound after negative CT scan offers little benefit in emergency gynecological care

Pioneering private practice and its 68 physicians join Strategic Radiology