Dear AuntMinnie Member,
A wide-ranging coalition of more than 40 medical organizations and healthcare providers is asking the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide reimbursement for CT lung cancer screening.
In a joint statement issued March 12, the American College of Radiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Lung Cancer Alliance, and other groups made note of the fact that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave CT lung cancer screening a grade B recommendation, which generally means the group believes the medical procedure in question should be provided to patients.
CMS last month opened a 30-day comment period on whether CT screening should be added as a service for long-term smokers, and the agency also announced that it plans to convene a meeting of its Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) on April 30.
The groups hope to move the thinking at CMS in favor of offering coverage, which could be a titanic shift in the medical imaging landscape. The letter recommends which patient groups should receive CT lung cancer screening, in addition to covering the minimal technical requirements that CT sites should meet to be able to offer screening.
Read more by clicking here.
Twitter leader McGinty
In Twitter, you're either a leader or a follower -- literally. In our ongoing series on radiologists who tweet, this week we're profiling Dr. Geraldine McGinty, who has amassed more than 1,600 followers.
Dr. McGinty is particularly passionate about the role of medical imaging in delivering better healthcare, and she describes herself as a "health IT nut" with a soft spot for a good infographic.
Twitter has enabled her to connect with the patient community in ways that were not possible before, she believes. Learn about her other insights by clicking here.
Ranschaert on mobile devices
The European Congress of Radiology (ECR) wrapped up on Tuesday. The meeting provided a treasure trove of news and discussion, including a video interview on mobile devices and teleradiology between Belgian radiologist Dr. Erik Ranschaert and AuntMinnieEurope.com Editor-in-Chief Philip Ward.
Dr. Ranschaert addresses the advantages of tablet computers such as the iPad within the hospital but also at home when on call. He describes how his hospital in the Netherlands has set up a virtual layer between desktops in the hospital and his personal iPad, which basically mirrors his PACS workstation. The link is both secure and works well, he said.
Dr. Ranschaert also discusses how his hospital handles issues such as confidentially in a "bring your own device" environment, as well as the results of a recent survey on tablet use in Europe. Watch the video by clicking here, or visit our RADCast @ ECR at radcast.auntminnie.com.
