Topic:
Reimbursement
Latest Headlines
Latest Headlines
CBO finds no savings from prior authorization for Medicare imaging
The latest Congressional Budget Office score of the economic effects of healthcare programs indicates that using prior authorization schemes in the Medicare program won't produce any savings.
U.S. could learn a lot from Canada about handling health policy decisions
In the world of public health--particularly as it relates to radiology--observers can be forgiven for developing a certain sense of frustration at the glacial pace at which government can arrive at sensible policy decisions. That's why a recent decision by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to replace all of its computed radiography equipment with digital radiography equipment is such a breath of fresh air.
Bill calls for Medicare reimbursement for radiology assistants
U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) has introduced a bill called the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act, which, if passed would, allow for Medicare coverage of qualified radiology assistant services.
Radiologists struggling with MRI reimbursement cuts
Policy changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that resulted in MRI reimbursement cuts are dramatically affecting radiology groups.
4 steps radiologists should take to meet Meaningful Use
In the latest issue of InPractice, Murray Reicher, M.D., co-founder of DR Systems, outlines several steps radiologists can take to implement Meaningful Use.
Emerging markets to power medical imaging equipment revenue growth
Driven by the developing world, the global imaging market will increase total revenues from $24.1 billion in 2012 to almost $30 billion by 2017, according to a briefing by Roberto G. Aranibar, a senior industry analyst of medical imaging for Frost & Sullivan.
Patient steerage negatively impacts radiology
While the practice of patient steerage--directing patients to low cost providers--has proved to be an effective strategy for insurance companies, its impact on the radiology industry has been less than positive.
Why the Stark Law loophole must go
When President Obama released his 2014 budget last week, one item, in particular, caught the attention of the radiology community: a proposal to close much of the Stark Law loophole. The law prevents self-referrals to facilities for a number of health services--including imaging--for Medicare patients if the referring physician has a financial interest in the facility. But, an in-office ancillary services (IOAS) exception to the law allows physicians to refer to themselves or other physicians in a group practice if the equipment is located in their own offices. Now, the president wants to remove diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy and physical therapy from this exception
Patient education factors into decline of MRI utilization
Today's patients are more educated about the appropriateness of advanced imaging examinations, according to research published this month in the Journal of the American College of Radiology .
Research questions rationale for multiple procedure payment reduction
Any new efficiencies in physician interpretation and diagnosis gained when different providers interpret different medical scans performed on the same patient are minimal and vary by procedure, according to an article published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology .
