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.

Massive spending bill passes final vote in Congress with Medicaid cuts intact
The 940-page document passed the House of Representatives in a 218 to 214 vote, and now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk. It contains a 20% cut to federal Medicaid funding, something Trump said he opposes.
Doc groups say payer promises not enough to address care denials
MGMA and others who are part of the “Regulatory Relief Coalition” are urging Congress to continue pushing forward with the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.
Provider pay increased by 4.9% across specialties in 2024, survey finds
A survey from the American Medical Group Association found that physicians and advanced care providers are making more money when compared to hours worked. However, the complications of inflation and the rising cost of care could eat into gains.
PFA market heats up as medtech companies announce new investments
While Kardium raised $250 million in an oversubscribed funding round, Field Medical raised $35 million. Both companies are focused on designing and developing new pulsed field ablation technologies to help treat challenging arrhythmias.
Senate bounces spending bill back to House with 2.5% Medicare rad pay fix
In addition, there are no restrictions on pass-through entity taxes (PTET), which “benefits independent physician practices,” one expert notes.

Per-patient imaging utilization, RVUs leapt during the pandemic despite overall drops in radiology volumes

Reasons for this oddity are likely multifactorial, including uncertainty about the management of COVID-19 patients, experts detailed in Clinical Imaging.

More than half of all heart disease patients struggle financially while seeking treatment

In fact, financial distress appears to be more closely associated with heart disease than cancer.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Nation’s largest insurer wants 55% of radiology services delivered at freestanding sites by 2030

Routine diagnostic imaging at a hospital can cost 165% more than other outpatient settings, UnitedHealth Group estimated.

A massive physician shortage is coming—and it could hit cardiology especially hard

By 2034, the United States is expected to be short somewhere between 37,000 and 124,000 physicians.

New legislation that would improve patient access to cardiac, pulmonary rehab programs introduced in Senate

The bill has received support from both parties. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association also hope to see it signed into law by President Joe Biden.

AI researchers gaining broader access to compute resources, government-gathered data

The data will draw on everything from census findings to driving habits gathered from vehicle sensors to—arguably most consequentially—medical records.

layoffs staff cuts termination workforce

Imaging firm cutting one-third of workforce; US Radiology Specialists' partnership, plus more vendor news

Also, Butterfly Network building a new headquarters, Hyperfine names a CEO, and ImaginAb raises $12.8 million in funding.

Radiology resident will appeal judge’s decision to reverse $2.75M racial discrimination ruling

Baiywo Rop, MD, alleges AdventHealth terminated him for racially motivated reasons and his attorney says there was plenty of supporting evidence, adding the judge "disregarded" the will of jurors.

Economics

Massive spending bill passes final vote in Congress with Medicaid cuts intact

Doc groups say payer promises not enough to address care denials

Provider pay increased by 4.9% across specialties in 2024, survey finds

PFA market heats up as medtech companies announce new investments

Senate bounces spending bill back to House with 2.5% Medicare rad pay fix