Policy: Bill proposes tapping foreign-born docs to relieve rad shortages | Medicare denies $16M in imaging AI payments

Lawmakers in both chambers have reintroduced the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, touting support from the American Hospital Association and several physician societies. 

The federal payment program first started paying for AI in 2018 and has denied about 53% of claims (or 53,857) submitted by radiologists since then, experts detail in JACR. 

The Society of Interventional Radiology and American College of Radiology are thanking lawmakers for reintroducing the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act. 

The federal payment program first proposed this 2.5%, across-the-board cut for physician services in July, exempting most time-based healthcare offerings. 

Five years after Congress passed the landmark law, shortcomings persist, which are potentially hampering patients and physicians, House leaders contend. 

The Small Business Administration will raise receipts-based standards for 263 industries including imaging, allowing more to apply for financing.

The company is seeking approval for TLX250-CDx (brand name Zircaix), a novel PET (positron emission tomography) product geared toward kidney cancer. 

Radiologists and other physicians recently wrote to Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, asking for changes related to contrast-enhanced ultrasound. 

Its alert pertains to over 26K carotid artery stents, used by interventional neuroradiologists, vascular surgeons and other docs to prevent strokes. 

Societies representing chest physicians, orthopedic foot and ankle specialists, thoracic and plastic surgeons, and gynecologic oncologists are joining ACR in the effort. 

Effective Feb. 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is no longer issuing separate payment for 3D rendering of imaging services (covered by CPT codes 76376 and 76377). 

Jonathan R. Medverd, MD, emphasized the valuable role such professionals play on physician-led teams, but emphasized they do not have the skills to interpret medical images. 

The agency recently issued a frequently asked questions fact sheet about the WISeR model days after House Democrats expressed concern about the initiative. 

The Amsterdam-based manufacturer is looking to bolster its facility in Reedsville, Pennsylvania, which produces AI-enabled ultrasound systems