Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies.

FDA approves AI startup’s new software for echo assessments
iCardio.ai, co-founded by a cardiologist, is part of the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program. The startup has already announced new partnerships with Viz.ai, Abbott and others in the cardiac health space.
Medicare administrative contractors approve coverage of AI-enabled quantitative CT
Four of the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) announced they will now cover artificial intelligence-enabled quantitative coronary tomography (AI-QCT) and coronary plaque analysis (AI-CPA).
Many radiology PowerPoints inadvertently put private health information at risk
Many of these files are still readily available online, and numerous contain PHI that is “easily accessible,” a new analysis reveals.
California imaging clinics at center of $54M Medicare fraud scandal
The LA area duo at the helm of the scheme laundered their profits “by buying millions of dollars’ worth of gold bars and coins,” the DOJ says.
Malpractice watchers: Radiologists, imaging societies should bone up on the ‘science of visual perception’
In a more perfect world, legal cases against radiologists would solely focus on whether or not the defendant’s misdiagnosis reflected a true failure to uphold the standard of care.

Translating ‘Radiology-speak’

My 85-year-old mother volunteers as an intake person at a free clinic, but her high school Spanish is long gone. This week, she found herself on duty without an interpreter and was amazed when a much younger volunteer pulled her smart phone from her pocket, spoke a question into it, and out came the question in Spanish.  The app performed the inverse function for the Spanish-speaking gentleman, and voilà, the registration ensued.

August 25, 2015

Fewer than 10% of people in the U.S. are uninsured

During the first quarter of 2015, seven million more people had health insurance compared with the same time period last year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.

August 19, 2015

Doctor-leaders favor physician accountability strongly, Obamacare slightly

A modest majority of physicians working in positions of executive leadership, 55 percent, believe there’s “more good than bad” in the Affordable Care Act. 

August 4, 2015

AMA response to HHS announcement on setting goals and timeline for shifting Medicare reimbursements from volume to value

AMA President Robert M. Wah, M.D. issued the following statement in response to today's HHS announcement regarding new goals for transitioning Medicare's payment system.

January 27, 2015

Image Gently urges dental professionals to child-size radiation dose

The Image Gently® campaign has developed online educational and scientific materials to help dental professionals optimize radiation dose used in imaging exams performed on children. Image Gently has also produced downloadable materials to help parents ask more informed questions of their dental providers whenever scans are recommended for their children.

September 29, 2014

AdvaMed Applauds Restoration of FDA User Fees in FY 2014 Appropriations Bill

Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), issued the following statement today following the release of the federal government’s fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations legislation: “AdvaMed applauds the FY 2014 appropriations omnibus legislation for restoring $85 million in industry-provided user fees that were lost to FDA in FY 2013 due to the sequester."

January 15, 2014

MITA Applauds Congress for Agreement on Omnibus Spending Bill that Restores Sequestered User Fees

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) today applauded Congressional leaders for agreeing on a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending package that will fund the federal government through the end of September 2014, increase funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and restore $85 million in funding lost last year due to the sequestration of FDA user fees.

January 15, 2014

Global Electrophysiology (EP) Ablation Catheters Market Growth Analysis, 2009-2015

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/wcfn7t/global) has announced the addition of the "Global Electrophysiology (EP) Ablation Catheters - Market Growth Analysis, 2009-2015" report to their offering.

October 24, 2013

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

FDA approves AI startup’s new software for echo assessments

iCardio.ai, co-founded by a cardiologist, is part of the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator program. The startup has already announced new partnerships with Viz.ai, Abbott and others in the cardiac health space.

Cardiovascular Business

Medicare administrative contractors approve coverage of AI-enabled quantitative CT

Four of the seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) announced they will now cover artificial intelligence-enabled quantitative coronary tomography (AI-QCT) and coronary plaque analysis (AI-CPA).

Radiology Business

ACR shares guidance for radiology providers facing IV supply shortages after hurricane

Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing site was significantly impacted by unprecedented rain and storm surge from Hurricane Helene hitting western North Carolina.