The FDA has proposed reclassifying medical image analyzers used in mammography for breast cancer, ultrasound for breast lesions, x-ray for lung nodules and x-ray for dental caries as class II medical devices instead of class III.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, May 29, that proposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imported goods, including medical imaging equipment, are back on the table.

Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA, has been elected Chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) board—the first woman named to the position in the history of the organization.

Ruth Carlos, MD, MS, will begin her new role in January 2019. She succeeds Bruce J. Hillman, MD, who founded the Journal of the American College of Radiology in 2004.

On Tuesday, May 16, the vice president of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) testified in front of an Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) committee, stating the proposed tariffs on Chinese imports would equate to $2.25 billion in taxes on many of its members, which include medical imaging device manufacturers.

A recent Black Book Market Research survey of administrators from 709 hospitals and inpatient organizations found medical imaging among the most popular services hospitals are considering outsourcing to save money.

The U.S. leads 22 comparable countries in MRI price, availability and use, according to a data report published by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The report was recently presented at a forum held by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Peterson Center on Healthcare in Washington, D.C.

In 2015, Medicare spent $762.1 million on imaging services in Massachusetts, with per beneficiary spending 14 percent higher than the average state. A Boston Business Journal report suggests increased imaging costs and higher utilization of imaging services are to blame.