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.

NIH-led COVID research effort taps AI startup schooled in synthetic health data

The NIH, FDA and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are working with a San Francisco startup whose calling card is an AI-enabled engine that renders patient data unidentifiable by reproducing it in synthetic versions.

M&A mergers and acquisitions business deal

Philips acquiring data-capture and device-integration firm Capsule Technologies for $635M

Based in Andover, Massachusetts, the company helps hospitals and other healthcare organizations connect devices and EHRs through its vendor-neutral system.

FDA going soft on AI reviews?

Last Tuesday the FDA posted an action plan telling how it will evaluate AI for medical applications going forward. Three days later the agency officially proposed letting numerous products through without review.

Hybrid lung cancer screening program could save Medicare millions in follow-up spending

Combining the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System with AI-based malignancy risk scoring bolstered exam specificity up to 96%, compared to 66% when using Lung-RADS alone.

UnitedHealthcare cuts noted academic system out of network, citing imaging costs 2-3 times local average

An ultrasound exam at Montefiore, for instance, runs roughly $800 more than the average in New York City, while a CT is $2,200 more expensive and an MRI $4,000 pricier, UHC claimed.

Nearly 76% of med students graduate with debt: Why radiology residency should include financial training

Medical school and residency coursework should cover everything from investing and the effects of compound interest to contract negotiation and retirement planning, authors wrote in a new editorial.

CMS has significantly cut interventional radiology reimbursement over the past decade

Out of 20 common IR procedures included in the analysis, only one experienced a pay increase between 2012 and 2020, researched found.

Two more big-name players in radiology services reportedly exploring sales

On the heels of Mednax selling its imaging business line to Rad Partners, SimonMed and LucidHealth are also allegedly entertaining offers, according to a recently published report.

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