Policy | Radiology Business

Policy

Guideline-discordant care more common among Medicare beneficiaries than VA patients

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U.S. veterans who opt for fee-for-service health systems like Medicare are less likely to receive guideline-concordant care than their counterparts in the Veterans Health Administration (VA), researchers reported in a JAMA Network Open original investigation this month.

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After pressure from SNMMI, Aetna expands coverage of gallium-68 dotatate PET

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) announced this week that Aetna has expanded its coverage of gallium-68 (Ga-68) dotatate PET.

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SNMMI highlights gallium-68 shortage in letter to FDA

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has written a letter to the FDA about ongoing shortages of generators that produce gallium-68 (Ga-68), a radioisotope used regularly in medical imaging.

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Congresswoman pushes for permanent repeal of medical device tax

Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, held a news conference Aug. 13 to call for Congress to permanently repeal the medical device tax. The House passed a bill to repeal the tax back in July, but the Senate has yet to take action.

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Report: 80% of radiology-related malpractice claims lead to permanent injury, death

A report evaluating five years of radiology-related medical professional liability claims found 80 percent of all diagnosis-related claims stem from the misinterpretation of clinical tests. Additionally, 80 percent of missed diagnosis claims in radiology result in either permanent injury or death.

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Breast density reporting legislation signed into law in Illinois

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed the state’s breast density reporting legislation into law, making it the 36th state with such a bill in place.

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Doctor-patient communication about lung cancer screening consistently misses the mark

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that physicians and patients take part in shared decision-making about both the benefits and the harms associated with lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT). According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, however, the quality of shared decision making in today’s healthcare environment is quite low.

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ACR announces 2 updates to LI-RADS, integration into AASLD guidance

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) Steering Committee has developed a new version of CT/MRI LI-RADS that is now in line with similar guidelines published by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

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ACR, VHA partnership improving quality of radiology care for US veterans

A partnership between the American College of Radiology (ACR) and Veterans Healthcare Administration has bolstered the quality of care U.S. vets see at medical facilities across the country, according to a report published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology this month—and that’s only improving with the implementation of a mandatory three-year accreditation cycle.

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FDA cites quality in halting Florida radiology center’s mammography services

Mammography services at a Sunrise, Florida, radiology center have been halted by the FDA until staff have sent cautionary letters to patients whose mammogram results might have been faulty, NBC Miami reported this week.

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Radiology nurses can improve patient care in ways radiologists can't

Overburdened imaging departments and staff shortages are compromising the efficiency—and communicative abilities—of U.S. radiologists, one clinician wrote in the Journal of Radiology Nursing this month. But radiology nurses might be undervalued as resources in the fight to ensure quality care.

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Current lung cancer screening guidelines ‘skewed’ toward white patients

Current lung cancer screening guidelines, developed based on results from a 2011 study, may be inadequate for high-risk minorities and those in underrepresented communities, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago reported in a JAMA Oncology study this week.

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Family awarded $3.5M after ER doctor misdiagnoses fatal stroke

The family of Melanie Smith, a mother of two who died in 2015 at the age of 40, was awarded $3.5 million by a jury this week after an emergency room (ER) physician reportedly failed to diagnose Smith’s stroke in time, leading to her death, the Staunton News Leader has reported.

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North Carolina surgeon’s effort to make MRIs affordable impeded by state law

A surgeon attempting to make MRIs more affordable for North Carolina residents filed a lawsuit Monday, July 30, in the state’s Superior Court to overturn a law that’s barring him from purchasing his own MR machine, Vox has reported.

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TSA rolling out CT scanners for carry-on luggage at airports throughout the US

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this week that it is unveiling CT scanners at airports throughout the United States to scan carry-on luggage and improve the detection of “critical explosives and other threat items.”

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36% of MRI facilities fail to meet Joint Commission guidelines

Jul 30, 2018 | Policy

More than one-third of MRI facilities fail to adhere to the 2015 Joint Commission’s Revised Requirements for Diagnostic Imaging Services, according to a survey conducted by global MRI safety firm Metrasens.

Policy

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CMS pushes for site-neutral payments with 2019 HOPPS proposed rule

Jul 27, 2018 | Policy

CMS released the 2019 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) proposed rule and 2019 Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule this week, pushing for site-neutral payments and updating OPPS payment rates by 1.25 percent.

Policy

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Researchers track how specific characteristics of breast density reporting legislation affect follow-up imaging

Jul 27, 2018 | Policy

Legislation requiring patients to receive a notification about issues related to increased breast density is associated with improved follow-up by breast ultrasound imaging, according to a new study published in Medical Care.

Policy

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NY radiologist suspended for alleged ties to white supremacists

Jul 27, 2018 | Policy

A New York radiologist has been suspended from his position at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx following allegations that he’s a white supremacist, Newsweek has reported.

Policy

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ACR releases 4 new, 23 revised documents for 2018 Practice Parameters and Technical Standards

Jul 26, 2018 | Policy

The American College of Radiology this week released four new and 23 revised documents for its 2018 Practice Parameters and Technical Standards, according to a statement from the organization. The new guidelines will take effect in October.

Policy

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JACR’s impact factor increases 16%, boosting journal to No. 3 among radiology publications

Jul 25, 2018 | Policy

The Journal of the American College of Radiology’s impact factor has increased for the fifth year in a row, reaching 16 percent growth over the course of the last year, according to data from the recently released 2018 Journal Citation Report.

Policy, Quality

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