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.

UnitedHealth, Amedisys offer divestitures as $3.3B merger advances
Pennant and BrightSpring Health Services have agreed to purchase some healthcare businesses from UnitedHealth and Amedisys. However, it remains unclear whether this will be enough for the DOJ to drop its lawsuit blocking the merger.
Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US
"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.
Senator introduces bill to boost radiologist pay in Medicare program
The lawmaker is proposing the ‘‘Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025," mirroring Rep. Murphy's House bill.
Covera Health to vet prostate MRI providers for ‘Radiology Centers of Excellence’
The startup has partnered with employers such as Walmart, providers and health plans (including BCBS Michigan) to steer patients to top imaging centers.
Enterprise imaging vendor Enlitic inks data migration deal worth up to $32M
The company has signed a "memo of understanding" with GE HealthCare, helping it to build a new cloud-based product suite.

Most physicians still paid based on volume, despite efforts to incentivize value-driven care

More than 80% of primary care physicians and 90% of specialists employed in group practices owned by health systems receive base pay under volume-driven models, new research shows.

Nation’s largest commercial insurer launching new program aimed at curbing imaging costs

UnitedHealthcare is currently circulating surveys to hospitals and freestanding centers, asking them to share details on their quality performance.

UnitedHealthcare launches program steering patients toward low-cost imaging centers

Patients will pay lower out-of-pocket costs for receiving imaging services at UHC-approved Designated Diagnostic Providers.

Imaging group Rezolut opens 26th center with more to come via Providence partnership

The 51-hospital industry giant first partnered with Rezolut in August 2020, and the two plan to launch several more outposts through their joint venture.

Pharmacist gets 5 years in prison for $180M insurance fraud scam

David “Jason” Rutland paid kickbacks to distributors for prescription referrals that were medically unnecessary and illegally billed insurers.

15% of patients admit to skipping imaging exams, other care due to out-of-pocket costs

About 1 in 3 Americans experience distress related to medical costs, and more fear paying for a serious illness rather than the illness itself, according to a new JACR study.

Private equity-backed SimonMed partners with online imaging marketplace Tripment Health

The platform teams with radiology groups, allowing them to list locations, appointment slots and prices to target cost-conscious consumers.

70% of healthcare executives expect M&A activity to ramp up this year

Many see labor shortages, supply chain issues and inflation as only modest obstacles to more deals.

Economics

UnitedHealth, Amedisys offer divestitures as $3.3B merger advances

Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US

Senator introduces bill to boost radiologist pay in Medicare program

Covera Health to vet prostate MRI providers for ‘Radiology Centers of Excellence’

Enterprise imaging vendor Enlitic inks data migration deal worth up to $32M