Hospitals are rich and poised to get richer while independent physicians and groups continue to take it on the chin, facing ever more onerous pressures to consolidate under the headship of large hospitals, health systems or for-profit practice management companies.

Big Tech’s recent expansions into medical imaging have business watchers scrambling to decipher the unspoken stratagems beneath the conspicuous moves.

Contrary to older research that showed neuroimaging emerging as the single most dominating cost contributor in ischemic stroke care for older Americans, a new study shows treatment and other line items account for bigger slices of the bill.

Contradicting prior research connecting heavy ordering of diagnostic exams with fear of malpractice charges—aka “defensive medicine”—a new survey shows ED referrers more focused on not harming patients than on not getting sued.

Emergency departments that employ nonphysician practitioners probably improve patient access to timely care. However, these EDs also order 5.3% more imaging than their physician-only counterparts.