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.

Surprise medical bills cost younger adults more

Millennials are feeling the pain of surprise medical bills more acutely than the generations that preceded them.

UnitedHealthcare’s revised CT payment policy ‘threatens’ the patient-physician relationship, advocates warn

The nation’s largest commercial insurer—covering some 70 million Americans—first implemented its imaging reimbursement update in the spring, drawing concern from the field.

CMS’ move to reimburse doctors for imaging algorithm use is encouraging. But is it enough?

Some are calling on the agency to boost proposed payments for a tool that diagnoses diabetic retinopathy in order to encourage widespread adoption.

Envision inks in-network radiology deal with Humana, Akumin’s Q3 earnings, plus more company news

Also, Irish teleradiology leader sells for almost $19 million, SimonMed's latest partnership, and New Jersey practice changes its name.

Top nuclear imaging group ‘strongly disagrees’ with Humana’s decision to refuse coverage for PET/CT

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging said the move denies patients access to potentially lifesaving technologies.

COVID-19 congress coronavirus Washington

Radiology among 74 medical groups pressing politicians to protect providers from ‘devastating’ pay cuts

ACR, SNMMI and others voiced their support this week for the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act."

Delaware cardiology practice to pay $500K to resolve fraud allegations

The alleged wrongdoings, reported by a whistleblower, occurred from April 2014 to March 2020.

Life sciences going all in with AI, with many companies spending upwards of $50M—and counting

The COVID crisis will spur leaders of life sciences companies around the world to focus on longstanding pain points that AI could help alleviate. And the execs are looking to put their money where their responses are.

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