A mere decade ago, radiologists were the belle of the physician recruiting ball, and topped the list of most requested specialists in physician search assignments. Times have changed. Merritt Hawkins has released its 2012 Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives; radiologists have dropped from the most requested specialty in 2003 to 18th in 2011-2012.

A notice of deficiency should define the expected acceptable behavior, timeline for improvement and consequences for noncompliance, according to a governance and empowerment strategy developed for surgical residents. Also, the authors recommended that the faculty should note and address systems problems that unintentionally reinforce and thus enable unprofessional behavior.

The Supreme Courts Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act decision, ruling the individual mandate constitutional under Congress taxing power and forced Medicaid expansion unconstitutional under Congress spending power, expands the federal governments ability to regulate individual behavior while testing its ability to shape national policy through conditions attached to federal dollars sent to states, according to a July 18 New England Journal of Medicine article.

In the war over reimbursements, a battleground has developed in North Carolina, where the states largest health insurer is pursuing a 50 percent reduction to the technical component fee for multiple image procedures amid outcry from many of the states providers.

U.S. News & World Report has released its list of the best hospitals for 2012-13, and for the first time in more than two decades, theres a new provider sitting atop the rankings.

A temporary restraining order preventing RadCare from becoming the exclusive radiology services provider at Maui Memorial Medical Center was dissolved July 11, allowing the radiology group to take over for incumbent Maui Radiology Associates, according to a report from The Maui News.

The aftereffects of the Supreme Courts landmark decision on June 28 to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will ripple for years. Now, after months of speculation and stagnation, the U.S. can return to business as usual.

The nature of provider agreements between radiology groups and hospitals has changed dramatically in recent years. From increasing carve outs to exclusivity, to constraints imposed by payor participation agreements, there are many potential stumbling blocks that practices must dodge when it comes time to negotiate their next contract.