Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

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Documents show Montana hospital paid $10M to settle radiology fraud lawsuit

Montana-based Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital paid $10 million to settle a federal lawsuit accusing its radiology department of fraud, according to unsealed court documents reported by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

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Costs of invasive lung cancer tests, complication rates higher than previously thought

The results drive home the need to incorporate these risk factors during the shared-decision making process between patients and physicians when evaluating lung cancer screening options for high-risk groups, according to the study's authors.

Op-ed argues Democrats should lead the way in repealing the medical device tax

A recent op-ed published by Morning Consult urged Democrats in the House and Senate to permanently repeal the 2.3 percent medical device tax in order bring down healthcare costs and promote innovation.

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Insurer's price calculator severely underestimates breast MRI cost for Philadelphia woman

Although many insurance providers have invested in price calculators for patients to determine out-of-pocket costs, one Philadelphia woman discovered they may severely underestimate actual prices for services, according to a recent report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Bruce Tromberg appointed director of NIBIB

Bruce J. Tromberg, PhD, was appointed director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) on Jan. 7 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, according to a recent NIBIB news release.

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Hospitals begin posting prices online, but is it helping patients?

A new federal law took effect Jan. 1 requiring all hospitals to post their list prices online. But, as it turns out, what appears online may end up confusing price-conscious patients more than helping them.

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Federal rule to increase price transparency of medical services, including imaging

A new federal law proposed by CMS took effect on Jan. 1, requiring hospitals to publish online price lists for medical imaging and all other services they provide, according to a recent report by Newsweek.

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MITA applauds 12 governors advocating for permanent medical device tax repeal

The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) applauded 12 U.S. governors for writing a letter strongly encouraging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, to permanently repeal the medical device tax before the end of the year.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.