Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

Connecticut’s Russo Radiology Acquired by Bridgeport Hospital

Bridgeport Hospital, a private, not-for-profit acute care hospital, has acquired radiology services provided at three locations of Robert D. Russo, MD and Associates Radiology in Bridgeport and Stratford, Conn., for an undisclosed sum

UnitedHealth Exits Calif. Market; Obama Gives Employers Reprieve

UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest insurer, told California state regulators that it would leave the California individual health insurance market, effective at the close of 2013. A similar move by Aetna last month leaves a combined 58,000 Californians shopping for coverage in a market that does not include the nation’s two largest insurance companies, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

Bill to Create Alternate RVU Advisory Group Problematic says RUC Member

H.R. 2545, a bill to create an “independent” panel to advise on the relative value of physician services, repeats old and invalid criticisms of the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) said Geraldine B. McGinty, MD, chair of the ACR’s Commission on Economics and a member of the RUC

Additional Evidence Shows Medical Imaging Utilization Rates Declining

The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute was set up in part to challenge wrong assumptions about the role of imaging in the rise in health spending, and the latest study from the Institute does just that

AHRQ Lists Strategic Radiology Patient Safety Organization

The AHRQ approval of the patient safety organization established by the Palmeto, Fla.-based network of radiology practices allows Strategic Radiology to move forward with the sharing of radiology safety and quality best practices

MemorialCare Medical Foundation Forms Joint Venture to Operate 5 Southern California Imaging Centers

MemorialCare Medical Foundation, the physician group division of MemorialCare Health System in Southern California, has entered into a joint venture partnership with SimonMed, an imaging company, to operate five imaging centers in the counties of Los Angeles and Orange

Republican Committee Leaders Release Updated SGR Fix Draft

The House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees on Friday released a more detailed version of their long-term proposal to remove the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for setting Medicare physician reimbursement

10 Residents Win Scholarships to Radiology Leadership Institute

Among the attendees of the second Radiology Leadership Institute event later this month will be ten radiology residents whose way will be paid by the ACR Foundation

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

The all-in-one Omni Legend PET/CT scanner is now being manufactured in a new production facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin.