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.

Here’s what radiologists gained—or avoided—after Trump signed the year-end spending bill

Namely, rads evaded significant Medicare payment cuts due to evaluation and management coding changes that would have gone into effect on New Year's Day.

UnitedHealthcare knocks Envision radiologists out of its network over ‘egregiously high rates’

All told, the private equity-backed physician services firm employs more than 900 radiologists operating in 570-plus facilities.

District of Columbia DC congress capitol hill

Key mammography protections in year-end spending bill uncertain after Trump criticizes legislation

This new legislation continues to recognize 2002 guidelines calling for screening every one to two years beginning at age 40, rather than the 'ill-advised' 2009/2016 USPSTF recommendations, the ACR said Wednesday.

Bankrupt radiology practice not entitled to $527K PPP loan, appeals court rules

The decision comes by way of a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and overturns U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Williamson’s ruling made in June.

Lawmakers delay RO model again as reps. seek to scale back ‘intensity’ of payment cuts

CMS had originally planned to kick off the mandatory bundled-payment effort in July, but will now punt the go-live date to Jan. 1, 2022.

Will CMS pay for utilization of AI software that’s similar to an established NTAP earner?

Now comes a boomlet in vendors looking to piggyback on Viz.ai’s success, according to Niall Brennan, MPP, a member of Viz.ai’s advisory board who is also the head of the Healthcare Cost Institute.

Florida man’s lawsuit claims Aetna wrongfully denied coverage for his prostate cancer treatment

The insurance giant refused coverage due to the "experimental or investigational" nature of proton beam radiation therapy treatment, according to court documents.

Radiology scores relief as Congress addresses pay cuts, RO payment model in year-end spending bill

President Trump on Tuesday night hinted that he may veto the bill if Congress does not make certain adjustments.

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