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.

RadNet records rare decrease in imaging procedural volumes
This marks the first time since the pandemic of 2020 that RadNet has seen a same-center decrease in imaging use.
Senators introduce bipartisan bill to revive shelved imaging appropriate-use criteria program
Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Catherine Cortez Masto are proposing the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act, which would eliminate real-time reporting requirements in AUC.
Private equity firm Stonepeak closing in on $1.9B purchase of radiology network
The New York investment group, which also owns Akumin, is reportedly "inches" from acquiring Australia's largest diagnostic imaging provider.
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.

Healthcare consolidation deserves stronger antitrust examination

More consolidation across the healthcare sector is on the horizon thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an opinion by Commonwealth Fund leaders published in Harvard Business Review.

Philips partners with OpenDoctor to offer radiology patient self-scheduling, plus more vendor news

Also, FDA clears Siemens' new PET/CT scanner, Varian CEO stepping down, and vRad scores its 23rd patent.

Portable MRI enhanced by AI cleared for prostate imaging

A manufacturer of compact MRI machines that leverage AI to upgrade image quality has received FDA’s blessing to market its technology in the U.S.

RadNet logs ‘record’ fourth quarter, buoyed by 3D mammo expansion, improved reimbursement

The Los Angeles-based operator has revised its investor guidance for 2021 to account for the rosier picture amid lifting COVID restrictions.

COVID crisis burnishes AI’s promise while magnifying chinks in its armor

The COVID crisis has spurred clinical researchers to look myriad ways AI might help win the war against the virus. Has the investigatory boomlet ended up raising as many nettlesome concerns as positive possibilities?

91% of consumer medical imaging tweets are negative, with most related to costs

Researchers hope their findings can motivate radiologists to consider costs from the patient's point of view, they explained Monday.

Telehealth claims surged in 2020

Telehealth claim lines rose 2,817% from December 2019 to December 2020, according to a new report that revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how healthcare is delivered and consumed.

AI imaging interpreter gains FDA’s OK for prostate care

The FDA has cleared an AI tool that helps radiologists diagnose or rule out prostate cancer on MRI scans.

Economics

RadNet records rare decrease in imaging procedural volumes

Senators introduce bipartisan bill to revive shelved imaging appropriate-use criteria program

Private equity firm Stonepeak closing in on $1.9B purchase of radiology network

UnitedHealth, Amedisys offer divestitures as $3.3B merger advances

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