Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies. 

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Google search trends help predict imaging demand among Medicare beneficiaries

Others have used the tech giant’s index of popular search terms to forecast everything from the stock market to disease outbreaks.

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Radiology lost $627M in anticipated Medicare payment during 2020’s first half

Across all physician types, the cumulative decrease in spending totaled $9.4 billion, the American Medical Association reported. 

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CMS finally relents after decade of not covering PET imaging for infection, inflammation

It was back in 2008 that the federal agency decided not to reimburse for this exam, citing scant evidence at the time. 

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Radiologists urge Congress to pause Medicare sequester cuts until after public health crisis

“We are deeply concerned that persistently high COVID-19 rates will continue to stress the entire healthcare system, especially physician practices,” rads wrote recently. 

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Radiology groups part of 1M provider coalition urging Congress to quash future Medicare pay cuts

The ACR and numerous others want lawmakers to stop using budget neutrality to enact “arbitrary reductions to reimbursement unrelated to the cost of providing care.”

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White House taps Obama administration vet as potential first Black woman to lead CMS

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure previously served as a top health official working to implement the Affordable Care Act and aided President Biden’s team in assessing HHS during the administration switchover.

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Radiologic technologist arrested and charged with distributing child pornography

An undercover investigation allegedly traced uploads to one 41-year-old man's home and employer, where he worked as a CT/x-ray tech, the DOJ said. 

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Technologist sues radiology practice, questioning details of its $164M employee stock ownership plan

Robert Harrison and his attorneys claim employees overpaid in the deal and are seeking a jury trial to settle the legal dispute. 

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.