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Increases in imaging tests widespread CHICAGO (Reuters), Nov 10 - The use of diagnostic imaging tests in the U.S. has increased across the board in recent years, with more patients getting the tests and more tests being ordered per patient, researchers said on Monday. more»»
11 steps for preventing MRSA infections in MRI There is growing concern that patients may contract methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) during MRI scans, based on highly contagious patients being scanned at MRI centers that lack even basic infection control procedures. Dr. Peter A. Rothschild once again shares his outlook on the issues surrounding MRI safety. more»»
CMS avoids tackling self-referral in MPFS and HOPPS rules The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had a chance to put the brakes on physician self-referral when it released its final rules last week governing the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). Instead, the agency punted. more»»
Report says Medicaid spending 'unsustainable' WASHINGTON (Reuters), Oct 20 - Spending on the Medicaid health program for the poor is on a path to grow at a much higher rate than the overall U.S. economy in the next 10 years, officials said on Friday. more»»
Stalking self-referral: OIG reports on MRI services paid under MPFS In an ongoing effort to curb overutilization of imaging services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report late last month that explores MRI services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and whether there is a link between the utilization levels of these services and how they are provided. more»»
Wake up, watch out: Coming trends in managing medical imaging The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 kicked off the U.S. government's effort to reduce what it sees as the overutilization of diagnostic medical imaging, and in its aftermath private payors have followed suit, adopting various modes of cost-cutting with mixed results. more»»
Does new OIG opinion create preauthorization loophole? A new legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) has some imaging industry observers wondering if the OIG has unwittingly created a loophole regarding preauthorization -- one that may require many imaging practices to contract with preauthorization outsourcing firms to maintain their referral base. more»»
MRI magnet explosions warrant improved venting and inspections At least five MRI magnets have exploded in U.S. healthcare facilities over the last 10 years, but the incidents have gone mostly unreported, according to Wlad Sobol, Ph.D., a medical physicist and professor of radiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System. more»»
GAO: DRA cut 2007 imaging expenses by $1.7 billion Medicare spent $1.7 billion less on imaging services in 2007 thanks to the reimbursement cuts mandated by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, according to a report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The decline represents the first year-over-year drop in Medicare spending on imaging since 2000, the report states. more»»
Survey shows residents have ample job options Say what you will about medical residency -- it usually does lead to gainful employment. Unlike some other types of graduates, newly minted doctors have little problem finding a job. A greater challenge for many physicians, and for radiologists, in particular, is choosing the right job from among various offers. more»»
Digital mammography more cost-effective than analog, report says Despite recent evidence regarding the clinical utility of full-field digital mammography, many hospitals and imaging facilities find the technology's high cost a barrier to adoption. But FFDM may actually be more cost-effective than analog mammography, according to a report published in the U.K. more»»
Portable CT brings lower costs, reduced risk to ICU Hospitals can save time and money by bringing CT scanners to intensive care patients rather than the other way around, according to a new study from researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. more»»
Hospitals look to regain market share in outpatient imaging Hospitals that haven't established outpatient imaging centers have been losing market share to standalone imaging centers. But hospitals are getting a second chance in outpatient imaging thanks to the financial impact of the Deficit Reduction Act, which is hammering many independent imaging centers. more»»
UnitedHealth pushes imaging accreditation deadline to 2009 Insurance giant UnitedHealth Group of Minneapolis has extended its deadline until the fourth quarter of 2009 for freestanding imaging facilities and physician offices to apply for accreditation to receive reimbursement for their services. more»»
Secrets to success: Gaining breast imaging market share Regular mammography exams are a key factor in breast health, and breast imaging centers can gain market share by expressing a genuine desire to help women stay healthy via their services, offerings, and the professionalism of their staff. more»»
U.S. Medicare to weigh easing some PET scan limits WASHINGTON (Reuters), Aug 15 - U.S. Medicare officials are seeking advice on whether to lift a payment restriction on PET scans used for nine cancers, a move that could lead to wider use of the technology among elderly and disabled patients. more»»
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There is growing concern that patients may contract methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) during MRI scans, based on highly contagious patients being scanned at MRI centers that lack even basic infection control procedures. Dr. Peter A. Rothschild once again shares his outlook on the issues surrounding MRI safety.
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