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.

In Canada, a kerfuffle over big radiology bills

The general public can’t be faulted for not knowing that radiology billing is split between technical and professional components, the former for acquiring the images and the latter for radiologists’ interpretation of them.  

Royal Philips acquires PathXL, hopes to boost digital pathology industry

Dutch healthcare technology company Royal Philips bought the Northern Irish pathology image analysis firm PathXL, Royal Philips announced June 21. 

Don’t look now, but virtual reality has set its sights on healthcare

Virtual reality is the talk of techies all over the world. But will VR find its way into healthcare on anything approaching a meaningful scale?

Imaging OEMs may find a major market in—did you say Cuba?

As trade and travel restrictions slowly loosen up with Cuba, U.S. suppliers of high-end medical equipment probably have a long wait before they have any chance at all to turn the “Pearl of the Antilles” into a hotspot of their market. 

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Decision support probably isn’t to blame for much ‘imaging leakage’

It’s understandable that hospital systems might balk before setting up ordering providers with order-entry clinical decision support (CDS) tools that, in theory, stand to drive imaging referrals outside the system. After all, referrers have been known to get around CDS recommendations they don’t like by simply sending patients elsewhere. 

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Brain science acts to manage a scientist surplus while averting a brain drain

It’s a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem: There are more PhD students training for careers in neuroscience research than academic institutions can possibly employ. 

Radiologist assistant role gets a legislative boost

Three months ago Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) introduced the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016. On May 18 a bipartisan companion bill rolled out of the offices of Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.). If passed, the measures would allow registered radiologist assistants to, essentially, become the PAs of radiology—with their services reimbursed accordingly.

NBA partners with GE Healthcare on $1.5 million in injury research funding

With the NBA Playoffs in full swing, the league is also working to fund research focused on protecting players from injury.

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.