"If you're not using an intravascular imaging modality, the PCI is not optimal," explained Haroon Faraz, MD, from Hackensack University Medical Center. Faraz is hopeful new and improved technologies will help these modalities become more popular among interventional cardiologists.

“Physical AI agents being able to actually deliver some of these services—all the way into robotic surgery—this is where we're going to see this next chapter of medicine be written,” said Kimberly Powell, vice president and general manager of healthcare at Nvidia.
 

Cardiology has largely shifted to hospital-employed models, driven by reimbursement compression and evolving physician priorities. This has created challenges as well as opportunities.

ASE President David Wiener detailed some of the many ways imaging societies need to adapt now that so many imagers are specializing in multiple modalities. It may be time to change how annual conferences are scheduled, for example, so that the costs of travel are easier to manage.

As of January 2026, there will only be two CPT category 1 payment codes for newer AI, despite there being hundreds of FDA-cleared medical imaging algorithms.

Herbert D. Aronow, MD, reviewed the many ways the reimbursement landscape is changing thanks to new Medicare policies. “This is a really exciting time in the renal denervation space," he said. 

Radiology Partners' Richard Heller, MD, MBA, outlined several mounting policy pressures providers face heading into 2026.

ASCs have their limitations, but they are also associated with several benefits for cardiologists and patients alike.