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.

Under-reimbursement keeping radiologists from using key imaging modality, docs warn CMS
Radiologists and other physicians recently wrote to Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, asking for changes related to contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
Looming end of Medicare rural pay adjustment raises concerns about doctor shortages
Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs at the Medical Group Management Association, explains why Congress needs to renew the Medicare geographic pay adjustments in rural areas—to make payments competitive with urban areas and help retain physicians in those communities.
New $6B Eversana looks to bypass PBMs and lower drug prices
A merger between Eversana and Waltz Health will create a new entity that CEO Mark Thierer says will upend the “existing oligopoly that I helped build.”
New York cardiologist headed to prison—DOJ says he paid for referrals, performed unneeded procedures
"Today’s sentence sends a deterrent message to doctors and the healthcare industry," according to a DOJ statement. "If you abuse patient trust for profit, you will face justice."
Hospital system no longer accepting radiology patients with out-of-network health plans
Summa Health said the change will take effect Sept. 1, with the two-hospital network ceasing scheduling of appointments for this consumer segment.

Center for Diagnostic Imaging enters new market with acquisition of 8 outpatient radiology centers

Leaders with the growing practice said they’ll continue to seek further deals in the near term, focusing on “high quality providers in attractive markets.”

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.

Economics

Under-reimbursement keeping radiologists from using key imaging modality, docs warn CMS

Looming end of Medicare rural pay adjustment raises concerns about doctor shortages

New $6B Eversana looks to bypass PBMs and lower drug prices

New York cardiologist headed to prison—DOJ says he paid for referrals, performed unneeded procedures

Hospital system no longer accepting radiology patients with out-of-network health plans