Dear Imaging Leaders Insider,
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) relaxed or waived a wide array of rules relevant to radiologists during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). But what will happen when the PHE finally ends?
In this edition's Insider Exclusive, attorney Thomas W. Greeson reviews potential impacts relating to teleradiology licensure and direct supervision of contrast-enhanced imaging exams.
Radiation oncology advocates have reason to celebrate this week. In a proposed rule announced on April 6, the CMS signaled that it would indefinitely delay its Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model). The model, which would radically change reimbursement for many radiation oncology practices, had drawn criticism for its aggressive implementation schedule and its "punitive" effects.
In other good news, the expansion of federal Medicaid coverage in 2014 reduced racial disparities in survival rates for women with incurable breast cancer.
How can artificial intelligence (AI) technology best be utilized by radiology practices? In a pair of talks at AuntMinnie.com's Spring 2022 Virtual Conference, presenters highlighted the benefits of AI in breast ultrasound and deploying AI at scale.
Screening mammography volumes took a big hit during the pandemic, but the decline wasn't evenly distributed. In a recent study, researchers found that screening mammography volume dropped off significantly more in women of color than in white women. Also, radiology departments may have more work to do to prepare for the next pandemic.
New changes in policy by credit reporting bureaus will have an impact on radiology practices, according to Sandy Coffta of Healthcare Administrative Partners. In another column, she also answers nine questions on how to bill for locum tenens services in radiology.
Health spending in the U.S. grew at only 4.2% in 2021 to reach $4.3 trillion, according to a report from CMS. Also, although radiologists still perform the most image-guided paracentesis and thoracentesis procedures, advanced practice providers are taking on a greater role.
Breast density reporting needs to be standardized in the U.S. to prevent unnecessary confusion for women, according to a recent study. Paid family medical leave has benefits for radiology practices and could help reduce the loss of female medical students. In addition, on-demand "microlearning" could transform the way breast imagers and all radiologists learn and grow, according to a contributed article by Andrea Wolf of the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer.
More lung cancer could be identified across a wider spectrum of patients if low-dose CT lung cancer screening was combined with a lung nodule detection and reporting program. When participating in multidisciplinary teams for elite athletes, it's important for radiologists to bring their clinical skills and "soft skills" such as humility and adaptability, according to a presentation at ECR 2022 Overture.
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