Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The repercussions from last week's announcement of new Medicare payment rates for 2010 continue to echo through the healthcare industry. Now, cardiac imaging specialists are decrying the rate cuts, which include a 36% drop in SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) payments.
In addition to the SPECT MPI cut, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing lower reimbursement for combined echocardiography, transthoracic echo, and electrocardiography, according to a story in our Cardiac Imaging Digital Community by international editor Eric Barnes.
On the positive side, CMS has finally published long-awaited base rates for four new category I current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for coronary CT angiography (CCTA). CCTA advocates believe the rates are adequate and should help clinicians secure reimbursement for cardiac CT procedures.
See the new rates by clicking here, or visit the community at cardiac.auntminnie.com.
Reducing unneeded DVT ultrasounds
In other news, we're highlighting an article in our Ultrasound Digital Community on reducing the number of unnecessary ultrasound scans for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Ultrasound can be a valuable tool in detecting DVT before a pulmonary embolism can occur, but negative scans can be a waste of precious resources, particularly during off-hours, according to the story by senior editor Erik L. Ridley.
University of Pittsburgh researchers found a way to limit unnecessary off-hours DVT ultrasound scans, without negatively affecting patient outcomes. Find out how they did it by clicking here, or visit the community at ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
