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.

AMA President highlights growing crisis facing U.S. physicians
American Medical Association President Bruce Scott, MD, explains some of the key issues facing physicians, including burnout, growing medical staffing shortages, doctors leaving rural areas, increasing patients and declining Medicare payments.
9 trends to watch in diagnostic imaging
Consulting firm Vizient is forecasting continued growth in the specialty, driven by shifts in where patients receive care, new therapies that require imaging and a rapidly aging population.
American Medical Association cautions radiology groups considering corporate investments
This new guidance emphasizes that clinical and operational decisions must “remain in the ultimate control” of radiologists or other clinicians, the AMA said Monday.
Patients making under $50K are less likely to have claim denials reversed, study shows
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Toronto found that racial minorities were less likely to have a medical insurance claim appeal approved, as were men more broadly.
Radiology societies urge commercial payers to update coverage for key interventional procedure
A total of 10 professional associations—also representing pain medicine, anesthesia and rehab specialists—recently messaged more than a dozen payers across the U.S.

Merit Medical Systems Fred P. Lampropoulos

Interventional radiology vendor Merit Medical announces $105M acquisition

Based in South Jordan, Utah, the company is purchasing rights to the EsophyX Z+ device from EndoGastric Solutions, adding $30M in annual revenue.

Steward Health Care deployed spy outfits to thwart critics

The failing health system allegedly hired intelligence firms that put a tracking device on a car, accessed a personal smartphone to find lurid information on an executive and attempted to frame a politician for bribery.

Cindy Crawford-backed startup Prenuvo launches clinical trial to assess impact of whole-body MRI

Led by radiologist Yosef Chodakiewitz, MD, Project Hercules aims to enroll 100,000 adults, with a focus on medically underserved populations.

ChatGPT large language AI radiology patient information

Image-interpretation market scoreboard: Radiologists 72%, others 28%

Radiologists interpret almost all imaging studies generated in hospital settings for indications other than cardiac concerns.

Walmart sells virtual care business to Fabric

MeMD offers on-demand telehealth services to more than 5 million patients. Fabric said the buyout will be a smooth transition with no impact on patient care.

AMA will aggressively support permanent telemedicine reimbursement

The American Medical Association said it will lobby for an indefinite extension of Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services, fighting a Dec. 31, 2024, sunset date.

Walgreens closing stores as 25% continue to struggle

The company said a “significant” number of its 8,700 stores will be shuttered over the next three years as it struggles to remain profitable.

scale money prices shopping transparency reimbursement dollar coins

CMS discounts dozens of drugs to thwart price hikes

Dozens of drugs are seeing price cuts that could save Medicare enrollees as much as $4,593 per day, CMS said.

Economics

AMA President highlights growing crisis facing U.S. physicians

9 trends to watch in diagnostic imaging

American Medical Association cautions radiology groups considering corporate investments

Patients making under $50K are less likely to have claim denials reversed, study shows

Radiology societies urge commercial payers to update coverage for key interventional procedure