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.

Tariffs will likely have a sizable impact on major radiology vendors
Medical device vendors Siemens, Philips and GE all saw drops in their stock prices after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs April 2.
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.

Medicare will now cover weight loss drug semaglutide if taken for heart benefits

The news represents a meaningful policy shift for CMS. In the past, Medicare prescription drug plans have not covered medications designed to help patients lose weight.

Powering down interventional imaging systems saves tens of thousands in electricity costs

Making the hypothetical adjustment of switching all idle systems to off overnight and on weekends would save one hospital about $38,000.

scale money prices shopping transparency reimbursement dollar coins

Nearly 15% of claims submitted to private payers are initially denied

Private payers eventually overturned more than half of denials, with the claims paid, but only after “multiple, costly rounds of provider appeals.”

Going green in the cath lab makes economic sense

New research explored the potential savings of turning off angiography systems at night and on weekends.

A possible remedy for cardiology’s staffing shortages: heart failure internists

Internal medicine physicians spend a lot of time working with heart failure patients. A new commentary in JACC: Heart Failure explored the potential impact of providing IM trainees with special training so that they can deliver additional value.

Medical image-sharing startup PocketHealth raises $33M in series B financing

Round13 Capital and the investment arms of Samsung and Deloitte all pitched in, with the company using the money to double its workforce within the next two years.

US Radiology Specialists names new leader as founding CEO departs

Lee Cooper will take the reins at the private equity-backed practice on April 1 after previously spending nearly 30 years with GE.

This week in the Change Healthcare hack fallout: 10 notable quotes

“ALPHV/BlackCat and their affiliates haven’t attacked Change Healthcare. This time, they’ve attacked our families.”

Economics

Tariffs will likely have a sizable impact on major radiology vendors

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