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. 

American College of Radiology ACR

ACR asks radiologists to mobilize in support of 2 key payment-related legislative proposals

The American College of Radiology is seeking support for both the Find it Early Act and the  Enhanced Enforcement of Health Coverage Act. 
 

dollar money finance debt decrease

Americans strongly oppose Medicare cuts to critical radiology services, new RBMA poll finds

The findings come from a survey of Americans conducted by the Remington Research Group and commissioned by the Radiology Patient Action Network. 

Breast CT University of Arizona Srinivasan Vedantham

Radiology researchers score $3M NIH grant to develop compression-free breast CT system

University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers will use the funds to help recruit volunteers, hoping to test the system on 600 women. 

FDA grants priority review for new brain cancer imaging agent

Pixclara (18F-FET) is a positron emission tomography product for the characterization of progressive or recurrent gliomas. 

Price shopping transparency

Radiology experts warn of unintended consequences stemming from imaging price transparency efforts

Researchers are expressing concern that this information may be motivating some to shy away from undergoing scheduled exams. 

FDA announces recall of Boston Scientific's Obsidio Conformable Embolic

Boston Scientific updates instructions for recalled embolic agent linked to multiple deaths

The premixed embolic agent is designed to embolize hypervascular tumors and occlude blood flow in a patient's peripheral blood vessels. It was recalled in April due to safety concerns.

HeartFlow Plaque Analysis Example

New Category I CPT code issued for AI-enabled coronary plaque analysis software

The news comes just days after CMS confirmed these technologies would start receiving expanded Medicare coverage in November. HeartFlow and other AI vendors have already shared their excitement over the decision. 

fatty liver disease hepatic steatosis

Radiologists issue ‘call to action’ on looming liver disease ‘crisis’

Imaging plays an essential role in addressing hepatic steatosis. Yet, radiologists have had almost zero involvement in shaping medical knowledge about the disease. 

Around the web

The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.

And it can do so with almost 100% accuracy as a first reader, according to a new large-scale analysis.

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.