American Society Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC)

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is the international leader in education, government policy advocacy, guidelines and quality in cardiovascular nuclear imaging. Cardiac SPECT remains the workhorse molecular imaging modality for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), but cardiac PET is gaining ground because of its advantages in much shorter exam times and the ability to offer additional information the function of the heart.

ASNC and AMA push back against AI prior authorization denials
Suman Tandon, MD, a representative of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), explains her organization's concerns about artificial intelligence being used to automatically deny prior authorizations and prevent patients from accessing care.
AMA House of Delegates helps cardiology groups influence healthcare policies
American College of Cardiology Board of Governors Chair David E. Winchester, MD, MS, examines the many benefits of working with the American Medical Association House of Delegates to bring about significant change.
FDA-cleared software increases throughput for flurpiridaz back-to-back rest-stress imaging
The new F-18 flurpiridaz radiotracer is expected to help drive cardiac PET growth, but it requires waiting between rest and stress scans. Software from MultiFunctional Imaging can help care teams combat that problem.
ASNC speaks to members of Congress about major trends in cardiology
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology made its voice heard, pushing for legislation to repeal Medicare payment cuts and tie payments to inflationary increases. Prior authorization and a proposed tariff on radioisotopes were also discussed.
Cardiology groups among the many voices asking Congress not to cut Medicaid
More than 40 U.S. healthcare organizations are urging Congress not to make sweeping Medicaid cuts that could result in approximately 7.6 million Americans losing health insurance.

ASNC 2023 president calls for nuclear cardiology to embrace new technology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2023 President Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, MD, said the subspecialty needs to up its game with new technology.

Veteran cardiologist, viewed by many as the founder of nuclear cardiology, dies at 82

Barry L. Zaret, MD, was an influential cardiologist, accomplished poet and veteran of the United States Air Force.

The fight continues: Cardiologists turn up heat on Congress to stop Medicare payment cuts

Dozens of medical societies have signed a new letter urging Congress to stop upcoming Medicare payment cuts. “The Medicare payment system remains on an unsustainable path threatening beneficiaries’ access to physicians," they wrote.

Comparison of flurpiridaz F-18 PET, SPECT and angiography of the 60-year-old female patients in the Aurora trial. The SPECT scan appeared normal, but flurpiridaz was shown to be more sensitive and showed the ischemia from two blockages in the right coronary artery. The new radiotracer may help expand cardiac PET. #ASNC

Flurpiridaz data shows promise to expand and enhance cardiac PET

The biggest news from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2022 meeting was positive late-breaking data on the phase 3 Aurora trial for the flurpiridaz (F-18) PET radiotracer agent.

Cardiac CT now in the spotlight thanks to chest pain guidelines

With the elevation of cardiac CT to a 1A indication in the 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines, there has been a large amount of interest in starting coronary artery CT angiography (CCTA) programs.

Big private payer reverses course on cardiac PET/CT coverage

One of the largest private health insurers in the U.S. has gone from considering hybrid PET/CT for cardiac indications “experimental/investigational” to displaying willingness to pay for the modality.

The ASNC is one of several medical imaging societies asking Congress to repeal the appropriate use criteria (AUC) criteria mandate. They say it poses issues for clinicians and is becoming outdated by changes in CMS payment systems. The AUC requirements call for documentation using CVMS authorized software in order to show advanced imaging such as nuclear and CT is justified, or else Medicare payments might be withheld.

VIDEO: AMA will ask Congress to revise clinical decision support mandate for cardiac imaging

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) delegates to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates 2022 meeting Stephen Bloom, MD, and Nishant Shah, MD, explain a new AMA policy asking Congress to revise its clinician decision support mandate.

Alex Ding, MD, radiologist and incoming AMA Board trustee, explains the new AMA policy that calls on Ciongress to change the requirements of the CMS requirement for appropriate use criteria clinical decision support software for all advanced imaging exams, including CT and MRI. #AMA #AMAmtg #AMA175 #AUC

VIDEO: AMA will ask Congress to change mandate on appropriate use criteria clinical decision support

Alexander Ding, MD, a radiologist and incoming American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees member, explains the new AMA policy calling on Congress to change the language and implementation of the current Medicare mandate that all advanced medical imaging needs certification.

American Society Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC)

ASNC and AMA push back against AI prior authorization denials

AMA House of Delegates helps cardiology groups influence healthcare policies

FDA-cleared software increases throughput for flurpiridaz back-to-back rest-stress imaging

ASNC speaks to members of Congress about major trends in cardiology

Cardiology groups among the many voices asking Congress not to cut Medicaid