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ACR Case in Point for week of October 12th, 2009 to October 16th, 2009

This week, the ACR offers you five new and challenging cases from some of the nation's leading academic radiology institutions to test your knowledge and diagnostic skills. This week's cases are listed below on the right.

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 12, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

OIG To Review Payments For Emergency Department Scans.

(Diagnostic Imaging) - "Payments for equipment utilization and the appropriateness of many emergency department scans will come under review by the Office of Inspector General under a fiscal year 2010 work plan." In its annual review of "healthcare arrangements" believed to "cost too much or" that "could violate federal fraud and abuse laws," the US Department Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) listed "x-rays performed in emergency departments." But, according to "a… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 12, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Interventional Radiology Resources Cover Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Interventional Radiology Resources Cover Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Society of Interventional Radiology Offers Publications, Patient Information Brochures

As recent medical studies continue to highlight the seriousness of PAD, Society of Interventional Radiology resources are welcome additions to libraries for interventional radiologists and primary care physicians who want to learn more about minimally invasive treatments for this disease that affects an estimated… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 7, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Spencer B. Gay, M.D., Travels to Mexico through International Education Program

OAK BROOK, Ill. (October 7, 2009) — Radiologist Spencer B. Gay, M.D., from University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, will bring his medical expertise to Mexico as part of the International Visiting Professor Program offered by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The program fosters international relations among radiology societies to assist with medical education in developing and newly developed nations.

Dr. Gay, professor of radiology and residency… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 7, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

RadTech News - ARRT Exam Committee Slots Open

(RESTON, VA) - ARRT Exam Committee Slots Open

The American College of Radiology (ACR) works closely with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) providing representation on its various exam committees. There are currently openings available for ACR radiologist representatives to serve on:

ARRT Breast Sonography Exam Committee

ARRT Cardiac Interventional Exam Committee

ARRT MRI Exam Committee

ARRT Quality Management Exam Committee

ARRT… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 7, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Merge Healthcare Partners with Biotronics3D, Ltd to Distribute Advanced Imaging Applications

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Three Diagnostic Imaging Solutions Now Available to eFilm Workstation® Community

Merge Healthcare, (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading health IT solutions provider, today announced the addition of three Biotronics3D applications to its eFilm eCommerce channel: Diagnostic 3D, Vessel Review and Colon Review. Each module brings fast access to an array of advanced visualization tools that assist in non-invasive viewing and diagnosing of medical conditions. All three… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 6, 2009 at 8:18am — No Comments

Weiner/Braley Self Referral Amendment Offered, then Withdrawn

(RESTON, VA) - Weiner/Braley Self Referral Amendment Offered, then Withdrawn

September 23, during the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s continued markup of H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, Representatives Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) offered, then withdrew, their amendment to close the in-office ancillary services exception for advanced medical imaging under the Stark law. Both congressmen spoke about the problems… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 5, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

CMS Lifts National Coverage Restriction on MRI for Blood Flow Determination

(RESTON, VA) - CMS Lifts National Coverage Restriction on MRI for Blood Flow Determination

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently removed a national coverage determination to not cover MRI for blood flow measurement and instead will allow local Medicare carriers to make coverage determinations at their discretion.

In its decision summary, CMS stated the “CMS finds that the blanket noncoverage of MRI for blood flow determination at 220.2 is no… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 4, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

CMS Reissues Billing Instructions for April FDG-PET NCD Changes

CMS Reissues Billing Instructions for April FDG-PET NCD Changes

CMS recently released to the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), via transmittals 1817 and 106, reissued Guidance and Billing Instructions for the April 2009 changes to the National Coverage Determination (NCD) on Positron Emission Tomography (FDG).

Providers will have two new modifiers (in addition to the list of current modifiers) to consider when submitting claims with a date of service (DOS)… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on October 3, 2009 at 9:08am — No Comments

Merge Healthcare to Speak at the 2009 Society for Clinical Data Management Conference 2009 Society for Clinical Data Management Conference

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merge Healthcare, (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading health IT solutions provider, has been invited to speak on the future of Electronic Data Capture (EDC) software at the 2009 Society for Clinical Data Management (SCDM) Conference in Seattle, Washington. Merge will also demonstrate its latest eClinical solutions at the show.

2009 Society for Clinical Data Management (SCDM) Conference:

October 4 - 6, 2009, Westin Seattle -- Seattle,… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 22, 2009 at 7:45am — No Comments

ACR Legislative ACTION ALERT: Please Call Your Senator to Support Reduced Utilization Rate Increase

Chairman Max Baucus of the Senate Finance Committee released his recommendations for health care reform recently and included several provisions that could have a direct impact on diagnostic imaging technical component (TC) reimbursement. Whereas proposals in the House of Representatives and the Administration have all increased the equipment utilization formula from the current 50% to 90% for CT, MR, PET and nuclear medicine equipment, Chairman Baucus has agreed with the protestations from the… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 22, 2009 at 12:50am — No Comments

RTOG Group Chair, Dr. Walter J. Curran, Named Director of Emory Winship Cancer Institute

RTOG Group Chair, Dr. Walter J. Curran, Named Director of Emory Winship Cancer Institute

Philadelphia, PA – September 15, 2009 – Walter J. Curran, Jr., M.D., RTOG Group Chair, has been named the Executive Director of the Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Associate Vice President for Cancer, Woodruff Health Sciences Center. Dr. Curran, who will continue as the RTOG Group Chair, will become the only radiation oncologist in the country to serve as the director of an NCI-designated… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 16, 2009 at 5:42pm — No Comments

Merge Healthcare Expands to the Russian Medical Imaging Market

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Building on a successful distribution agreement established over the past three years, Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE), a leading health IT solutions provider, and Rosslyn Medical, a large medical imaging solution provider serving the Russian market, have extended their partnership to expand the portfolio of Merge OEM products available to Rosslyn. This new agreement brings the Russian market access to “zero client” web technologies, PACS applications, and clinical… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 10, 2009 at 10:29am — No Comments

ACR Case in Point Preview for the Week September 7th

Preview of this week's case in point! Please visit ACR Case in Point for your radiology cases today! Monday, September 7 67-year-old female with vertigo induced by loud noises Tuesday, September 8 2-day-old boy with abdominal distention and no passage of stool since birth. Diabetic mother Wednesday, September 9 50-year-old male with pain in distal left forearm with limited range of motion. No… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 8, 2009 at 12:58pm — No Comments

Medical Imaging Saves and Extends Lives: Patients Should Not Avoid Medical Imaging Care Due to Concerns Raised in Recent NEJM Article

Medical Imaging Saves and Extends Lives: Patients Should Not Avoid Medical Imaging Care Due to Concerns Raised in Recent NEJM Article

Medical imaging exams and image guided procedures are increasingly replacing more invasive and often more costly techniques while saving and extending lives everyday. The American College of Radiology, in conjunction with other imaging stakeholders, has long been effectively addressing issues regarding radiation dose from medical imaging exams and… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 8, 2009 at 12:01pm — No Comments

Musculoskeletal Tumor Imaging, Compartmental Anatomy, Biopsy & Therapie (Webcast / CME by ARRS)

Musculoskeletal Tumor Imaging, Compartmental Anatomy, Biopsy & Therapies Doris E. Wenger, MD, Catherine C. Roberts, MD, and Patrick T. Liu, MD

ARRS Web lecture series brings presentations by the best educators in the field to your desktop, available for viewing at home or office and on your schedule. This Web Lecture includes three lectures with an estimated time to complete the activity of 1.5 hours. Target Audience:… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 5, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

LI-RADS - ACR Initiative to Improve Quality and Patient Care

ACR Creates LI-RADS Committee to Standardize Reporting for HCC

The ACR has convened a LI-RADS (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System) Committee to develop a system for standardized reporting and data collection for CT and MR imaging surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The production of CT-MR LI-RADS will:

- Reduce the frequency of technically inadequate examinations by specifying minimum acceptable technical parameters for CT and MR surveillance… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 4, 2009 at 10:07am — No Comments

Radiology iPhone App: eRoentgen - Appropriateness Critieria in the Palm of Your Hand!

The iPhone App Store now has yet another great Radiology-focused application geared towards improving quality of care. eRoentgen was developed by a physician at iAtros software. According to their website, iAtros software was founded by Constantine Brocoum, MD to provide mobile medical solutions to 21st century healthcare providers. In addition to eRoentgen™ for iPhone, iAtros is in the process of developing applications for a variety of mobile… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on September 3, 2009 at 7:02pm — No Comments

Deficit Reduction Act slams radiologists, benefits nonradiologists

August 28, 2009

Diagnostic Imaging.

Deficit Reduction Act slams radiologists, benefits nonradiologists

By Rebekah Moan

Radiologists have felt the effects of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 far more than nonradiologist imagers, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. When Congress slashed Medicare reimbursement for medical imaging procedures, nonradiologists offset the loss by referring more patients to their own equipment (JACR… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on August 31, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments