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.

ICF International of Fairfax, Va., has been awarded a re-compete contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide data management support and technical assistance to more than 40 CDC-funded grantees. The contract has a value of $9.7 million and a term of one base year, plus four optional years.

A New York federal judge has denied a motion to throw out a $34 million jury verdict against CareCore National, a radiology benefits management (RBM) company, in an antitrust case.

While the Medicare Payment Advisory Commissions (MedPACs) overall goal to scrap the governments sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula is commendable, most say the commission is going about it the wrong way and have asked MedPAC to rethink its proposal. A MedPAC solution, proposal in September, was recommended by members in a 15-2 vote Oct. 6; however, most say the plan needs reworking, particularly because the proposal to overturn SGR is laced with long-term freezes and cuts to physician payments.

Barco has signed a contract to deliver 25 of its Coronis Fusion 6MP DL display systems to Labmedicin Skne, a laboratory organization under the supervision of the Skne Regional Council in Sweden.

Carolina Radiology Associates, a group of 17 radiologists in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has purchased and installed Carestream Vue PACS and Vue RIS reporting module.

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.