Lung and bronchus cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65-74, precisely a population for which Medicare is responsible, yet a CMS advisory panel gave low-dose CT lung-cancer screening a vote of low confidence in a meeting today in Baltimore.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) in conjunction with Coding Strategies, Inc. (CSI), has launched a series of audio and video podcasts designed specifically for radiology physicians.

Unpredictability seems to be the constant variable in the saga of changes to healthcare these days. When the decision was made to postpone the ICD-10 for another year, many healthcare providers let out a sigh of relief, while others expressed disappointment because they had already spent considerable resources on preparations and training. Either way, sometime in 2015, providers and payers alike will have to be ready for the change. Industry experts suggest they use the extra time wisely. 

We won’t know with any certainty for years whether the Affordable Care Act will ultimately result in a healthier US population, but the new health law is speeding the demise of an American small-business institution; the one-doctor medical practice, according to an article published in the Union-Tribune San Diego. 

Now that the enrollment period is over for the health insurance exchanges (HIEs), individual states are reporting their enrollment figures; some states report meeting their enrollment goals and others falling far short. Beyond a simple exercise in tallying, state leaders also are evaluating their state’s exchange rollout successes, challenges and enrollment demographics, making plans to address gaps in enrollment and devising operational tactics for the coming year. At the same time, major insurers, such as Aetna and United Health Group, are beginning to report their first quarter results under the new health care law and offer some indication rate hikes next year. 

Technology innovator, StatRad, announced the continued enhancement of its medical image sharing platform, RadConnect. RadConnect is now offering second opinion reports for radiology exams. Through an affiliation with University of California, San Diego, RadConnect users can receive second opinions from the school’s world-renowned faculty.

According to the Associated Press, radiologist, Dr. Ashokkumar Babaria of Moorestown, New Jersey, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for overseeing an illegal kickback scheme. 

A segment on National Public Radio's Morning Edition digs into the challenges physicians are experiencing as co-pays and deductibles continue to rise.