Diagnostic Imaging's Blog – April 2009 Archive (24)

April 3, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Obama budget makes no assumptions about Medicare sustainable growth rate cuts By James Brice The $3.5 trillion spending plan passed by the House and Senate April 2 reflects the recent reality of applying the Medicare sustainable growth rate policy on physician fees. It anticipates that Congress will again intervene to stave off the pending 21% cut to physician fees next year and actually estimates that payments will grow by $147.1 billion from 2010 to 2014. The… Continue

April 2, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. AIUM preview: Sonologists bring annual convention to Facebook By H.A. Abella The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine has launched a social networking site to allow attendees to hook up, discuss, and even blog before, during, and after the group's 2009 meeting in New York City starting April 2. At least a dozen ultrasound subspecialties are now linked through the site, as well as through Facebook and Twitter. AIUM members deem their clinical practice… Continue

April 2, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. GE and Bracco spar over court ruling By Greg Freiherr The debate between GE and Bracco over GE's marketing of its Visipaque contrast agent continues despite a U.S. District Court finding that GE used false advertising to win sales for the x-ray contrast agent. GE Healthcare is permanently enjoined from making such claims and must pay Bracco damages of $11.4 million. The ruling is a consequence of litigation begun six years ago by Bracco and settled in a New… Continue

April 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Report from ACC: Cardiologists slowly adopt appropriateness criteria By Alice Goodman More than 13% of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging exams are performed without clinical justification, and the appropriateness of another 14% is questionable, according to a pilot study that assesses physician referring practices and compliance with American College of Cardiology Appropriate Use Criteria. The investigation suggests that cardiologists and other ordering… Continue