Almost All Firms to Transition People to Exchanges

A majority of companies will shift from employer-based health coverage to plans sold on the federal marketplace by 2020, according to a new investor report by Standard & Poor Capital IQ, reports McClatchy DC. The report--based on S&P's 500 companies--found that such a change would save a total of $689 billion through 2025. Read more here.  

By |2014-05-06T09:48:42+00:00May 6th, 2014|Business, Healthcare|Comments Off on Almost All Firms to Transition People to Exchanges

Are Hospital Mergers Destined to Fail?

Although hospitals and health systems continue to forge ahead with mergers and acquisitions in an effort to reduce costs and improve care, if history is an indicator, most of these partnerships will fail… Read more here.

By |2014-05-06T09:14:06+00:00May 6th, 2014|Business, Healthcare|Comments Off on Are Hospital Mergers Destined to Fail?

CMS Should Not Pay for Regular CT Screenings for Heavy Smokers, Panel Says

A Medicare panel determined that there is not enough evidence to justify annual CT scans to detect early lung cancer in heavy smokers. The CMS's nine-member Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee voted Wednesday against paying for the screening tool. Read more here.

By |2014-05-01T10:22:57+00:00May 1st, 2014|Business, Government, Healthcare, Regulatory|Comments Off on CMS Should Not Pay for Regular CT Screenings for Heavy Smokers, Panel Says

Delving into Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

You hear about it on the radio, on TV and see it in the health system newsletter. Your facility has bought in or is close to sending out an RFP. The buzz is all about digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). Experts weigh in on its prowess, performance and power in cutting recalls. Is it ready for [...]

By |2014-05-01T09:58:38+00:00May 1st, 2014|Healthcare|Comments Off on Delving into Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Before the Deluge: What Changing Demographics Mean for Imaging

Age catches up with us all at some point. For the Baby Boomers, that point is arriving year after year, with 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day from now until 2030. It’s no secret our elderly population will grow to levels never before seen in the U.S. Meanwhile, the obesity epidemic rages on and other [...]

By |2014-05-01T09:17:32+00:00May 1st, 2014|Healthcare, Medical|Comments Off on Before the Deluge: What Changing Demographics Mean for Imaging

2-year Cost Analysis Favors SPECT for CAD Testing

SPECT emerged as the winner in a head-to-head comparison of cost outcomes for patients evaluated for coronary artery disease (CAD) after a two-year follow-up. The cost of subsequent invasive procedures made rivals PET and coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) more expensive. Read more here.

By |2014-04-21T10:45:59+00:00April 21st, 2014|Healthcare|Comments Off on 2-year Cost Analysis Favors SPECT for CAD Testing

Swiss Board Repeats Call To Abolish Breast Screening

Breast cancer screening programs in Switzerland should be wound down, as screening does not clearly produce more benefits than harms, according to an editorial by two members of the Swiss Medical Board published on 16 April in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read more here.

By |2014-04-18T10:10:16+00:00April 18th, 2014|Healthcare|Comments Off on Swiss Board Repeats Call To Abolish Breast Screening

SPECT Less Costly Than PET, CTA

For the evaluation of patients with suspected CAD, the costs of single-photo emission CT were significantly lower than that of PET or coronary CTA, according to new data from the SPARC registry.  At 2 years, patients who underwent PET had higher costs and mortality compared with SPECT, and patients who underwent coronary CTA had higher [...]

By |2014-03-14T11:10:03+00:00March 14th, 2014|Business, Healthcare, Medicine|Comments Off on SPECT Less Costly Than PET, CTA

Lobbyists Say ObamaCare Medical Device Tax Repeal Within Reach

Healthcare lobbyists say they’re close to winning repeal of the medical device tax in ObamaCare. Republicans and some Democrats in the House are pushing to eliminate the 2.3 percent excise tax in legislation as Washington has approached year-end talks to get the government running again and lift the debt ceiling. Read more here.

By |2013-10-08T07:42:25+00:00October 8th, 2013|Government, Healthcare|Comments Off on Lobbyists Say ObamaCare Medical Device Tax Repeal Within Reach

With ‘Helium Cliff’ Dodged, More Challenging Discussions Await

On September 19th, the U.S. Senate passed an amended version of the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act, or HR 527, which was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year. It still needs to be officially signed into law, but this is a major step to averting a helium shortage that had been looming [...]

By |2013-09-20T11:33:45+00:00September 20th, 2013|Business, Government, Healthcare, Medical, Medicine|Comments Off on With ‘Helium Cliff’ Dodged, More Challenging Discussions Await
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