Representatives from the American College of Radiology (ACR) delve into major issues facing radiology today, what steps the ACR is taking to address the issues and the details of political advocacy.

Designed to help attendees understand the concept of the accountable care organization (ACO), this session addresses the delivery model and how it will influence the practice of medical imaging. Speakers also will explore licensure, reimbursement and position responsibilities of the radiologist assistant.

With policymakers scrutinizing imaging and competition continuing to escalate, independent imaging practices face the risk of extinction. A trio of experts presents and assesses the challenge and possible solutions.

In the Victorian era, economics was dubbed the dismal science. A century and a half later, economics, particularly in the healthcare space, is far from dismal. More appropriate adjectives that spring to mind include essential, gripping and contentious. The healthcare economics lineup for the 97th Annual Meeting & Scientific Assembly of the RSNA reflects its pre-eminent role in radiology today. Scroll down for Health Imaging's top picks for RSNA sessions in healthcare economics and be sure to subscribe to our monthly economics portal to stay on of these issues.

Over the next decade, new radiologists will be starting on career paths that look quite different from the paths of todays radiologists, and they will potentially face a future that trends toward increased commoditization of radiology services, according to a web exclusive article published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Medical terminology since the age of healthcare reform has shifted from a vocabulary such as vasospasms and angina to an entirely new language that turns patients into customers or consumers and doctors into "providers," according to a perspective published Oct. 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

An expert panel considered the role of radiologists in reducing healthcare costs and offered strategies for responding to the accountable care organization (ACO) model during a Masters of Radiology discussion. An article based on the transcript of the discussion appeared in the October issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have analyzed the Top 5 overused clinical activities for primary care physicians and found that $6.7 billion was spent in one year performing unnecessary tests or prescribing unnecessary medications in primary care. Although imaging dominated the Top 5 list, the recommendations published online Oct. 1 in the Archives of Internal Medicine focused on curbing brand name statin prescriptions, which accounted for 86 percent of the cost.