While waiting for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to begin the recovery audit contractor (RAC) prepayment review demonstration originally slated to begin in January, the Journal of the American Health Information Management Association published a guide to prepare for the audits and encouraged healthcare organizations to be proactive.

The National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed measures Aug. 10 for care coordination, complication-related patient safety, cancer and disparities and cultural competency. In addition, NQF removed the time-limit endorsement in 13 measures, including a measure for a standardized adverse event ratio for children 18 years of age undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Leukoaraiosis, or nonspecific white matter changes, which are comprised of tiny areas in the brain that have been deprived of oxygen and appear as bright white dots on MRI scans, may not be benign and may be a disease that alters brain function in the elderly, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Radiology.

This weeks highlights delivered good news for middle-aged and older men and women. The debate on prostate cancer screening, much like breast cancer screening, has reached a crescendo. Other findings should spark vibrant discussions with colleagues and patients.

Due to the lack of studies, there is currently no proof that patients with ovarian cancer can benefit from PET alone or in combination with CT. With regard to diagnostic accuracy, recurrences can be detected earlier and more accurately with PET or PET/CT than with conventional imaging techniques in certain cases. So concluded the final report by Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) in Cologne, which was published May 23.

Radiation therapy (RT) reduced the risk of subsequent mastectomy for women ages 70 to 79 with Stage 1, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who underwent conservative surgery, according to a study published Aug. 13 in Cancer. The findings contradict a previous clinical trial, which suggested that RT did not lower the risk of subsequent mastectomy or death from breast cancer.

M*Modal and One Equity Partners have announced that in connection with the previously announced merger, Legend Acquisition Sub (an affiliate of OEP) has extended the expiration of its tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of M*Modal for $14.00 per share, to 11:59 pm EST, on Aug. 14.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has released a new rule that will "cut red tape for doctors, hospitals and health plans," according to a release published on the agency's website. The regulation adopts operating rules for making healthcare claim payments electronically and describing adjustments to claim payments.