A group of nuclear energy executives and consultants refuted the nearly 80-year-old belief that low doses of radiation can eventually cause cancer, instead positing that it produces a beneficial biological response, in an article published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

The MACRA "season opener" has come and gone, and imaging practices can now begin reporting quality metrics in the hopes of receiving a positively adjusted reimbursement. Chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR)'s Commission on Economics, Zeke Silva III, MD, outlines the four reporting options for the first year of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), in a post for ACR Bulletin.  

The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute has released a tool to help providers determine if they are patient-facing or not. The Radiologist Patient Facing Dataset (RPFD) uses claims data from 2012 to 2014 establish their patient-facing status.

Researchers found decreasing imaging utilization in states with stronger physician protection from malpractice suits, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

After introducing bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2.3 percent medical device excise tax—which took effect in 2013 before being suspended for two years on Dec. 31, 2015—Reps. Erik Paulsen, R-Minnesota, and Ron Kind D-Wisconsin, were both recognized and applauded by the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA).

Women in New York may have an easier time getting a mammogram in 2017, as legislation expanding access to breast cancer screening went into effect on Jan. 1. The law mandates extended screening hours for hospitals and eliminates deductibles and co-payments for all screening and most diagnostic imaging.

In a study conducted by the Harvey L. Nieman Health Policy Institute and published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, researchers found problems with the current MACRA/MIIPS reporting framework, citing a too-low threshold of patient encounters and surgical codes where radiologists are no longer eligible for certain considerations.

Imaging societies and advocacy groups nearly universally decried CMS’s decision to not revisit Medicare coverage for CT colonography (CTC). CTC has endorsements from major players including the American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology and the Food and Drug Administration.