Six current and former employees of the FDA—all scientists and physicians who worked on reviewing medical devices—have filed suit against the agency, accusing it of spying on their computer activities. The six allege that they were placed under secret surveillance because they had warned Congress that FDA was hastily approving risky devices.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed the American College of Radiology that “operational limitations” will prevent them from applying the imaging professional component Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) to group practices beginning Jan. 1, 2012. Therefore, CMS will not apply the professional component MPPR for imaging services performed by separate physicians in the same group practice for 2012.
Radiologists’ recommendations for follow-up imaging generated 5.3 percent of chest and abdominal CT, brain and lumbar spine MRI and body PET exams, with pulmonary nodule evaluation identified as the most common cause for follow-up imaging, according to a study published online Nov. 15 in Radiology.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that updates payment policies and rates for physicians and non-physician practitioners for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in calendar year 2012.
Citing the effectiveness of public safeguards, David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch, advocated for reducing barriers to creating healthcare regulations before Congress’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
While the original intent of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 was noble, nine years of congressional overrides have contributed to higher Medicare spending on physician services and left the federal government with a significant budget deficit exposure, according to a report from healthcare performance management developer MedeAnalytics.
A bipartisan group of 61 Members of Congress, led by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) of the House Small Business Committee, signed and circulated a letter to congressional colleagues expressing concern over imaging cuts recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
In its June report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended reduced reimbursement, payment bundling and prior authorization for medical imaging services.
Targeting patients undergoing medical imaging procedures or radiation therapy, legislation introduced June 2 by U.S. Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) and John Barrow (D-Ga), would set new education and certification standards for technical medical professionals performing imaging, if ratified. The CARE Act (or Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act), is sponsored by a bipartisan group of 19 members of the House of Representatives.
The health insurance (HI) trust fund may not be adequately funded and may run out of funds in 2024, five years earlier than expected, according to an annual report composed by the board of Medicare trustees.
Last week, 30 members of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) visited Capitol Hill to meet with congressional offices on a variety of issues facing the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community. Forty-eight meetings were held with staff members from key congressional committees and from the local districts of the SNM members.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has estimated that Medicare physician payments will be cut by 29.5 percent in 2012 unless a long-term solution is adopted.
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