Dozens of presentations scheduled for RSNA 2015 in Chicago fall under the conference’s “Health Policy” category. Unfortunately, attending each and every one is logistically impossible, but why not aim for one session per day? 

Referring physicians have embraced remote access to radiology images and reports, but these technologies have slashed facetime with radiologists. The resulting clipped communications are not ideal for the cause of patient-centric collaboration. 

According to a recent study in Academic Radiology, a thorough, data-driven approach can reduce delays for interventional radiology (IR) patients and lead to more procedures beginning on time.

Providing women with financial incentives to undergo breast cancer screening did not lead to significantly more of them receiving a mammogram, according to a randomized, controlled trial. The women all had private insurance through the Tufts health plan in Massachusetts.

An analysis of patients with prostate cancer treated in Minnesota found 13 percent of patients underwent imaging after suspected disease recurrence. However, only three percent underwent imaging in the absence of clinical symptoms of cancer recurrence.

The American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM) and American Board of Radiology (ABR) have agreed to not move forward with their proposal to develop a single training pathway that incorporates both nuclear medicine (NM) and diagnostic radiology (DR). 

A new bipartisan bill was introduced into the U.S. Senate that aims to improve the accountability and interoperability of EHRs and other health IT systems.

Value-based payments in radiology are here, and they are evolving fast. Nobody knows how they will morph, stretch, bend or otherwise play out in practice over the coming weeks, months and years. But there’s no more time to sit around waiting to find out before taking steps to adjust and prepare.