Striving to improve patient care is the primary goal for providers and hospital administrators, but doing so while still maintaining a revenue stream remains an acute pain point, particularly in an era of healthcare reform. How can hospitals effectively provide patients correct care without raising expenses? One way may be to start looking at unnecessary testing.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has issued a plan that would move the healthcare system away from a fee-for-service model to a patient-centered model. However, the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance and Access to Medical Imaging Coalition have called on Congress to reject the BCBSA proposal that would call on Medicare to use prior authorization for advanced imaging services.

As of next February, the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association (AHA) will expand their collaboration to provide special designations to organizations giving next generation stroke or heart failure care.

The Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section has re-launched its Professional Development and Education Fund, which was created in 2001, and aims to support the advancement of molecular and nuclear medicine technologists through professional development that promotes clinical excellence and optimal patient outcomes.

The FDA has issued a 510(k) approval letter for the Planmed Nuance Excell full-field digital mammography system.

The Center for Translational Molecular Medicine, an Eindhoven, Netherlands-based institute for research in molecular techniques for the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer, has launched a new EUR16 million ($21.26 million) project, called TraIT (Translational research IT).

The FDA has made changes to the package inset of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) regarding the risk of ovarian failure, osteonecrosis of the jaw, risk of venous thromboembolic event (VTE) and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy after first VTE event.

Palmetto GBA, the designated national contractor for the Oncotype DX colon cancer test, has established a formal coverage policy for all Medicare patients, according to Genomic Health. The Oncotype DX colon cancer test has been validated to predict risk of recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer.