Imaging advocates blasted the proposal shortly after its release, saying it's "unconscionable that radiology is again on the chopping block."   

The window to serve RP with the complaint was slated to expire July 13, with a judge prepared to dismiss the case if the action was not completed

Such ownership changes were associated with an 8.2% price increase in radiology and statistically significant upticks across 8 of the 10 specialties examined. 

Payment cuts in Medicare, rising costs and administrative burdens all are pushing providers to seek sales, the AMA said. 

Merk & Co. paid the largest amount to the specialty between 2017-2021, followed by Hologic and Pfizer, researchers wrote recently.  

The agency issued its solicitation as part of the recently released 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. 

Among Medicare beneficiaries, there was a marked drop in the delivery of percutaneous renal artery angioplasty, used to treat a narrowed artery, between 2010 and 2018.

BCBS last month suggested curtailing coverage for peripheral nerve stimulation devices, used to relieve pain, which drew ire from thousands of physicians. 

Both are making ample use of advanced-practice providers to handle procedures and other billable work, with a few notable differences. 

Measures to optimize the value of radiology services will be necessary as the strained PCP workforce is increasingly augmented by other providers, experts wrote in JACR. 

H.R. 4286 also would expand coverage for tobacco cessation in the federal payment program, including counseling and medication-assisted treatment.