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.

Proposed HHS budget would close NINR, cut nursing programs
The American Nurses Association is warning that eliminating support for the training and research offered by the National Institute of Nursing Research could be devastating to the public, as many programs support specialties such as maternal and mental health.
Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence
The 55-year-old patient woke up experiencing chest pain one morning and an ambulance was called. He was dead just a few hours later. His family's lawsuit argued that delays in care, communication errors and other issues were directly responsible for his death.
Leaked HHS budget reveals 30% cuts, elimination of many core services
A proposal for the massive restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services ends funding to programs associated with chronic disease management, lead safety, and Head Start. However, HHS is adding a new department to focus on understanding the cause of long-term illness.
RadNet leaders discuss rationale behind blockbuster $103M iCAD AI acquisition
RadNet provides 1.9M mammograms per year in the U.S., and adding iCAD’s installed customer base would boost the number of impacted exams to 10M.
Interventional radiologists ‘markedly’ increase billing for nonprocedural work, despite drop in overall doc count
"These findings underscore IR’s accelerating transition toward comprehensive patient care, with significant implications for training, practice management, and the specialty’s role within the broader healthcare landscape," experts write.

Touchstone Medical Imaging to pay $3M federal fine following cybersecurity breach

Touchstone Medical Imaging has agreed to pay a $3 million fine to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to settle potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) rule violations stemming from a large breach exposing patient health information.

The ACR’s 4 legislative priorities for Capitol Hill Advocacy Day

On May 22, more than 400 American College of Radiology (ACR) members will speak with their elected federal representatives to discuss four legislative priorities as part of Capitol Hill Advocacy Day at the 2019 ACR Annual Meeting.

Report: Understanding AI in healthcare essential to stop fake news

It is well known that AI has the potential to upend several areas of medicine, including targeted treatment and diagnostics. However, a lack of knowledge about AI in the healthcare space could have a negative effect, through the spread of misinformation––and fake news.

Unnecessary procedures cost Kentucky cardiologist $1M, 5 years in prison

A former Kentucky cardiologist received five years of prison time May 2 after allegedly performing numerous unnecessary heart procedures as part of a healthcare fraud scheme.

American Society of Breast Surgeons release mammography screening guidelines based on individual risk

The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) has released new screening mammography guidelines based on a patient’s individual breast cancer risk profile. The American College of Radiology announced their support for the new recommendations.

AHA backs federal efforts to raise tobacco sale age to 21

The American Heart Association, alongside the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and Tobacco-Free Kids, is throwing its support behind federal efforts to raise the tobacco sale age to 21 nationwide.

Health companies launch FDA-approved blockchain pilot

A pilot that aims to study the use of blockchain-enabled data technology to track and verify specialty prescription drugs has been approved by the FDA.

Guidelines updated for radiation therapy after prostatectomy

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Urological Association (AUA) have updated their clinical guidelines for adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy following prostatectomy.

Economics

Proposed HHS budget would close NINR, cut nursing programs

Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence

Leaked HHS budget reveals 30% cuts, elimination of many core services

RadNet leaders discuss rationale behind blockbuster $103M iCAD AI acquisition

Interventional radiologists ‘markedly’ increase billing for nonprocedural work, despite drop in overall doc count