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 to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs
SCAI and other healthcare groups want changes made to how healthcare providers are paid after performing office-based lab procedures. "As much as we love delivering care as doctors, if we are losing money doing something, we cannot sustain it," one cardiologist explained.
How private equity influences care for heart failure patients
Overall, 30-day outcomes were not significantly different for hospitals after being acquired by a private equity firm. However, the study’s authors did identify trends that suggest there may be a drop in the quality of care.
CT colonography demonstrates ‘superior’ performance and cost savings vs. stool-based testing
“Given recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage of CTC for CRC screening, this study and its conclusions are more important than ever,” experts write.
Private practice takes over radiology services for hospital system that recently emerged from bankruptcy
Andover, Mass.-based Commonwealth Radiology Associates is teaming with Heywood Healthcare, an independent, community-owned hospital group, to deliver imaging services.
Startup developing ultracompact PET imaging scanner raises $8.5M
Founded in 2018, Positrigo scored U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance last year for its NeuroLF brain PET system, which is targeted toward Alzheimer's.

Private equity-backed cardiology group puts cloud-based technology in hands of its cardiologists

Cardiovascular Associates of America, backed by Webster Equity Partners, currently includes practices in eight different states. Its partner cardiologists now have preferred access to multiple cloud-based services provided by Athenahealth.

Boston Scientific to acquire medical device specialists focused on stroke prevention for $1.2B

Silk Road Medical is known for developing transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), a new-look procedure designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease.

Amazon Pharmacy is now delivering medications by done

Amazon expands pharmacy subscription service to Medicare beneficiaries

The online retailer boasts that its $5 RxPass service would save Medicare an estimated $70 a year, per patient.

The ASNC team at the 2024 AMA meeting, Georgia Lawrence, JD, ASNC director of regulatory affairs; Suman Tandon, MD, FASNC, delegate to the AMA HOD and cardiac imager at NYU Langone; and Kathy Flood, ASNC CEO. #AMA #AMA24 #AMA2024 #AMAHOD #ASNC

ASNC supports AMA effort to limit use of AI in prior authorization decisions

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) supports an AMA policy that condemns the use AI to make prior authorization decisions rather than a doctor or clinician.

Credentialing is burdening small hospitals—and underserved communities pay the price

There is no way to automate the credential check when a hospital hires a new provider, and the process can sometimes take months to do manually.

Medicare Money dollar payment reimbursement

Radiology Business Management Association offers 5 ways for Congress to fix broken Medicare system

“It is crucial to implement an annual payment update that keeps pace with inflation," RBMA President Bob Still wrote to Senate finance leaders June 14.

Senators introduce bill to criminalize private equity ‘looting’ in healthcare

Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren are co-sponsoring legislation that would put executives in jail if their business practices result in the death of a patient.

Senators propose bill empowering AGs to claw back ill-gotten profits from private equity-backed providers

Democratic Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren introduced the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act of 2024 on June 11.

Economics

AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs

How private equity influences care for heart failure patients

CT colonography demonstrates ‘superior’ performance and cost savings vs. stool-based testing

Private practice takes over radiology services for hospital system that recently emerged from bankruptcy

Startup developing ultracompact PET imaging scanner raises $8.5M