January 2021

Pay-for-performance initiative markedly improves radiologists’ quality and safety successes
Cigna stops requiring prior authorization for certain CT imaging exams
Surprise billing ban will constrain cash flow for radiology services providers, Moody’s predicts
X-ray technologist dies after receiving second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Radiologists must master potential imaging pitfalls stemming from COVID-19 vaccinations
Experts recommend ending routine mammograms for some older breast cancer survivors
Patient safety watchdog Leapfrog Group launches national initiative targeting diagnostic errors
COVID-19 pandemic intensifying burnout among some specialties, while radiology sees reprieve
Private equity firm closing in on $344M purchase of global teleradiology outfit
Standardizing evaluation after liver cancer treatment could save US healthcare more than $575M per year
What the typical radiology practice can expect in pay following 2021 Medicare fee schedule updates
$100M mega mammography trial sees ‘record’ rebound following COVID slowdown
Ultrasound maker Butterfly Network names new CEO ahead of completing $1.5B merger
Radiologists log lower rates of entrepreneurship compared to other physician specialists
American Board of Radiology shares early positive feedback from virtual test-taking transition
COVID-19 public health emergency likely to remain in place for the duration of 2021
Radiologist sues Boston Medical Center claiming pattern of gender discrimination prior to her dismissal
American College of Radiology urges Senate to confirm Xavier Becerra as next HHS chief
Integrating patient image viewer with EHR portal produces nearly sevenfold increase in access
Moody’s sees ‘significant execution risk’ as Radiology Partners integrates Mednax’s imaging business
Cancer imaging rebounding, but disruptions expected to persist into 2022
Imaging administrators say improving staff morale a top priority after stressful 2020
FTC probing impact of physician practice consolidation during busy M&A period for radiology
Hospital suspends mammography services that posed ‘serious risk to human health’
Time awake and hours slept significantly impact less experienced radiologists’ performance
Stephen Hahn resigns as FDA commissioner, says he was ‘disgusted’ by Capitol Hill riots
Radiology Business Management Association postpones annual meeting due to COVID-19
Philips acquiring data-capture and device-integration firm Capsule Technologies for $635M
Overaggressive lung nodule evaluation saddling patients with excess costs, radiation exposure
Radiology practices’ COVID-related struggles go far deeper than just imaging volume declines
Triage tool helps cut unnecessary CT imaging for blunt trauma without worsening patient outcomes
Providers and payers unite in blasting ‘hastily constructed’ CMS final rule to simplify prior authorization
Radiology provider Envision suspending contributions to lawmakers who opposed election certification
Completely eliminating shielding could exacerbate ‘radiophobia’ among patients, rad techs warn
Solis Mammography acquiring largest radiologist-owned practice in the Washington metropolitan area
UnitedHealthcare cuts noted academic system out of network, citing imaging costs 2-3 times local average
CMS has significantly cut interventional radiology reimbursement over the past decade
Early career radiologists must educate themselves about the perils of private equity-backed imaging
FDA clears artificial intelligence add-on for ‘world’s first’ portable MR imaging system
For radiology practices, 4 financial lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
Radiology quality-improvement program could cut imaging spending by $433M if used across Medicare
Longtime Mississippi radiologist, health board leader and ACR honorary fellow dies from COVID-19
CMS finalizes rule to speed up Medicare coverage of breakthrough imaging devices
Two more big-name players in radiology services reportedly exploring sales
RadNet touts AI offshoot’s early success, pinpointing cancer a year earlier than current practice
Controversial radiologist and former White House COVID-19 advisor Scott Atlas deletes Twitter account
ACR concerned new rule would set the stage for ‘highly controversial new national practice standards’
Judge tosses doc’s second attempt at suing American Board of Radiology over MOC fees
HHS yet again extends COVID-19 public health emergency, this time until April
Rapid go-live as first trust in Greater Manchester patient diagnostic imaging initiative deploys Sectra solution
Independent imaging practice coalition Strategic Radiology names new CEO
What radiology practices need to know about 2021 CPT coding changes
Radiology professionals more prepared for change than their primary care counterparts
Radiology resident pay falling short of expectations, as programs overlook one key factor
Radiology providers struggling to share images in a timely fashion, steer patients to portals
Hitachi inks five-year deal with Olympus to jointly develop endoscopic ultrasound systems
Olympus and Hitachi Announce Long-Term Business Alliance Regarding Endoscopic Ultrasound Systems
Hologic continues buying binge, acquiring molecular cancer test firm Biotheranostics for $230M
CMS approves 5 new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System measures, relieving radiology’s quality crunch
Experts call for a new subspecialty in imaging—the ‘screening radiologist’
A COVID silver lining: Pandemic-related workflow changes produce 23% drop in imaging wait times
Hologic acquiring German biopsy site marker manufacturer Somatex for $64M
UnitedHealthcare knocks Envision radiologists out of its network over ‘egregiously high rates’