In an opinion piece published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, longtime radiology department chair at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, and CDS pioneer Stephen E. Seltzer, MD, poses the following provocative question: Should radiologists advocate broader use of medical imaging or become gatekeepers who take responsibility to control access and costs?

Radiologists are working harder and retiring later than desired, according to a workplace survey of active radiologists published in the journal Academic Radiology, making it difficult to predict whether the future supply of radiologists will be adequate to meet demand.

The current physician piecemeal reimbursement model ultimately drives up the costs of healthcare according to Sandeep Jauhar, MD. In a New York Times editorial he explains that while overutilization is certainly a factor, cutting payments to physicians is a self-defeating strategy, forcing them to increase the number of patients they see, which reduces the amount of time spent with each one. Busy doctors call on others to help with the patient load, often times specialists who may order more tests, driving up costs. "There is no more wasteful entity in medicine than a rushed doctor," says Jauhar.  

Nine years ago, when radiologist Kevin Barker, MD, joined the solo practice of Dr. Anson Cone, Community Radiology Associates (CRA) covered one imaging center and one rural hospital, and enjoyed high regard from referring physicians in the Texas Hill Country, a vast, 25-county region marked by rugged hills separating Austin from San Antonio.

The Obama Administration reports more than eight million people have signed up for health insurance under the new healthcare law, but many of those newly insured are confused. Responses like this are common: “I have my card, now what?” or “I pay my premium, why am I getting a bill?”

While studies using Medicare Part B data indicate a decline in outpatient imaging utilization in recent years, a new study suggests a different trend in the commercially insured patient population.

The Congressional Budget Office found five more years of solvency for the Medicare program in its latest analysis, but the same report revised downward prospects for the Social Security program.

I had the privilege of spending ten minutes on the telephone with William T. Thorwarth, Jr, MD, earlier this week for the purpose of checking in with the ACR’s new CEO and listening to his top-of-mind concerns.