Management

This page includes content on healthcare management, including health system, hospital, department and clinic business management and administration. Areas of focus are on cardiology and radiology department business administration. Subcategories covered in this section include healthcare economics, reimbursement, leadership, mergers and acquisitions, policy and regulations, practice management, quality, staffing, and supply chain.

Medicare MRI reimbursement has plummeted 77% since 2003, when adjusting for inflation
Exams are being delivered faster, thanks to abbreviated protocols, but experts contend insurers should not cut MRI pay because of such efficiencies.
Fewer radiologists are interpreting breast imaging exams, with key workforce implications
From 2013 to 2022, the percentage of rads submitting breast care claims to Medicare dropped from about 47% down to 34%.
Rad Partners commercializes teleradiology platform pioneered by acquired company vRad
The product is a fully integrated, artificial intelligence-enabled technology tool, providing real-time analytics to interested outside radiology groups.
Judge protects New York ‘shield’ rule against Texas abortion lawsuit
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sought an injunction against abortion medications being shipped to women in his state.
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology to open center for advancing AI-based imaging tools
The Center for Computational and AI-enabled Imaging Sciences will bring together talent from WashU’s respected medical and engineering programs.

Merge Chairman Steps Down After Bad Q2

Michael W. Ferro, Jr., chairman and board member for Chicago-based Merge Healthcare Inc., has resigned after another poor quarter for the company

ACR, ASNR Urged CMS to Accept Physicians Advice on New and Revised CPT Codes

In August, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) met with CMS officials to “reiterate and provide additional information” as to why they should accept the advice of the physician experts on Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) when updating Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes that relate to radiology

Kansas Radiologist Pleads Not Guilty in $7 Million Fraud and Bribery Case

Heidi Lynn Webster, MD, a former Army officer radiologist and founder of the defense contractors MRI Resources Inc. and Pro Veteran Staffing Inc., has pleaded not guilty to charges that she and two of her business partners conspired to defraud the government

MGMA Calls For Moratorium on Stage 2 Meaningful Use Penalties

Providers who purchased an electronic health record (EHR) system that has yet to be certified for Stage 2 of the Meaningful Use incentive program are in a fix and it is unfair to penalize them for not meeting Stage 2 requirements says the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)

vRad Sues Competitors Over Patent Infringement

Teleradiology provider Virtual Radiologic (vRad) has filed a patent infringement suit against radiology technology and services company Tandem Radiology and two of its teleradiology customers, Direct Radiology and Imaging Advantage

Survey Finds Hospitals Spending Less on PET/CT Systems

The August Modern Healthcare/ECRI Institute Technology Price Index revealed a 27% drop in the average price paid by surveyed hospitals for PET/CT systems between May and June

Tech at Center of Hep C Outbreak Pleads Guilty

David Kwiatkowski, a radiology technician that infected at least 45 people with hepatitis C, has plead guilty in federal court to tampering with a consumer product and obtaining a controlled substance at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire

Joint Commission Seeks Comments on Revised Requirements for Imaging

The newly revised requirements for diagnostic imaging affect ambulatory care, hospital and critical access hospital settings. Comments may be submitted between now and Sept. 25 2013

Management

Medicare MRI reimbursement has plummeted 77% since 2003, when adjusting for inflation

Fewer radiologists are interpreting breast imaging exams, with key workforce implications

Rad Partners commercializes teleradiology platform pioneered by acquired company vRad

Judge protects New York ‘shield’ rule against Texas abortion lawsuit

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology to open center for advancing AI-based imaging tools