Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

AI catches overlooked broken vertebra on X-rays, with sizable cost-saving implications
The software could opportunistically screen patients at a smaller cost than other interventions, given it automatically operates "in the background" on radiographs performed for other reasons.
90% of residents in radiology and other specialties say they’re underpaid: ‘I am barely surviving’
The finding comes despite a 27% increase in average resident pay over the last nine years and 4% year-over-year growth, up to $70,000.
Interventional radiology vendor Merit Medical to acquire device portfolio for $210M
Cook Medical’s lead management portfolio generated about $37 million in revenue in 2023, with most sales in the U.S., Utah-based Merit noted.
Radiology AI firm specializing in automating MRI workflows raises $19M
Copenhagen-based Cerebriu said the Danish VC firm North Ventures led the Series A funding round with support from EIFO and Sagitta Ventures.
Physicians debate the ‘perils and promise’ of whole-body MRI screening
This care model has grown in popularity, with startups such as Prenuvo and Ezra charging $2,500 out of pocket to screen asymptomatic patients for cancer and other diseases

Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act helps preserve care for most vulnerable patients

Washington, DC (April 21, 2015) — The American College of Radiology (ACR) strongly supports the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act (S. 1020), recently introduced by Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) to repeal the 25 percent Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR). 

April 21, 2015

ACR 2015™ attendees to learn how clinical research can advance patient care and their practice

Washington, DC — Radiology professionals attending ACR 2015™ clinical research sessions will learn how to participate in clinical trials, generate new revenue streams, and demonstrate value in new health care delivery and payment systems.

April 8, 2015

Outpatient diagnostic center continues growth with expansion into Athens market

ATHENS, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Outpatient Diagnostic Center (“ODC”), a medical imaging provider with locations in Huntsville and Madison, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Athens based Valley Imaging and a long term alliance with its radiologist, Joe Cannon, MD.

March 12, 2015

Merge announces Q4 financials, acquisition of DR Systems, Inc

CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merge Healthcare Incorporated (Nasdaq:MRGE), a leading provider of health information systems for medical imaging, interoperability, and communication, today announced its financial and business results for the fourth quarter of 2014.

February 27, 2015

Zotec Partners introduces new Zotec Analytical Reporting Interface for radiologists

New technology transforms complex algorithms into meaningful narrative.

January 23, 2015

The smartphone as disruptive medicine

Healthcare providers looking to engage patients will find a key enabling—and potentially disruptive—tool in their back pockets: the smartphone.  Writing in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal, cardiologist Eric Topol, MD, reviews a growing portfolio of powerful new applications and devices that can diagnose an ear infection, monitor mental health, track heart rhythms and even generate x-rays.

January 13, 2015

Prison term for ID theft

A breach at an Alabama hospital that resulted in a two-year jail term for a hospital employee suggests that insider threats to patient data security may be greater challenge than many providers understand.

January 12, 2015

Looking ahead: Compliance with regulations on CT equipment and dose monitoring

One of the topics weighing heavily on the minds of those providers who perused all the new CT imaging equipment on display at RSNA 2014 was the new legislation dedicated to medical imaging as it relates to making provisions to more strictly control CT dosage requirements under NEMA Standard XR-29-2013.

December 23, 2014

Around the web

Health Imaging

What might reimbursements for proposed MRI safety CPT codes look like?

Prior to the final proposal’s release, the American College of Radiology reached out to CMS to offer its recommendations on payment rates for five out of the six the new codes.

Health Imaging

'A very, very good thing'—CMS proposes reimbursements for providers' efforts to ensure MRI safety

“Before these CPT codes there was no real acknowledgment of the additional burden borne by the providers who accepted these patients."

Cardiovascular Business

New imaging technique captures human heart with 'unprecedented detail'

The new images were captured at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility using hierarchical phase-contrast tomography. One specialist called them "Google Earth for the human heart."

Economics

AI catches overlooked broken vertebra on X-rays, with sizable cost-saving implications

90% of residents in radiology and other specialties say they’re underpaid: ‘I am barely surviving’

Interventional radiology vendor Merit Medical to acquire device portfolio for $210M

Radiology AI firm specializing in automating MRI workflows raises $19M

Physicians debate the ‘perils and promise’ of whole-body MRI screening

Around the web