Reimbursement News
CMS to Correct Errors in PFS Payments
Beginning on May 24th, 2010, a number of imaging centers noticed a sudden spike in Medicare technical and global payments for PET studies paid in the physician fee schedule (PFS). On June 3, 2010, officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that the recent update file submitted to Medicare administrative contractors and carriers, was incorrect and that a corrected file will be sent to the payers for the July 6th, 2010 Medicare PFS update.
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Congress Passes Bill Delaying Cuts to Medicare Physician Fees
On June 24, Congress approved a bill that averts for six months a planned reduction in fees paid to doctors who treat Medicare patients. The House voted 417-1 to pass the measure, a week after the Senate confirmed it unanimously. This means that a pending 21% cut in payments to physicians that see Medicare patients will be delayed through the rest of the year.
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MedPAC Report Critiques Imaging Self-Referral
In a report bristling with documentation, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued a broad-ranging critique of in-office self-referred imaging and outlined a series of steps to curb practices it said were contributing to the growth in imaging volume. MedPAC recommends the use of prior authorization and the reduction of fees for high-volume self-referrers of imaging tests, among other steps, to manage imaging utilization.
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Read related article detailing the current laws and MEDPAC's recommended changes
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Industry News
Canadian Reactor Repairs 100% Complete
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has reported that Chalk River Laboratories, Ontario-based National Research Universal (NRU) reactor’s weld repairs are 100 percent complete. AECL maintains that NRU will resume isotope production by the end of July and the first medical isotopes will begin to be removed from the NRU for processing and distribution within 10 days of the reactor being returned to service.
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Molecular Imaging News
SNM Image of the Year
The annual Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) Image of the Year for 2010 comes from Japanese researchers who combined images of multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and 99mTc sestamibi SPECT to gain data on the anatomical localization, angiography and metabolism of an enlarged parathyroid gland. The image was picked by a committee of SNM members as an example of simultaneous multimodality imaging. The study pinpointed 34 enlarged glands, which were also detected by surgery.
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Healthcare Reform
Virtual Speaker Series: Navigating Healthcare in the 21st Century
This exclusive speaker series, sponsored by Siemens, continues on July 13 and features a 1:00 pm ET address and LIVE Q&A with American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) President, Rita Bowen. Throughout this series, industry thought-leaders and peers will share expert knowledge on Health Reform and its impact on topics including privacy, security, quality measurement, and cost containment to help you build a roadmap to effectively Navigate Healthcare in the 21st Century.
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Journal Review
Popular Articles from June 2010
SNM: Biomarker Helps Predict Breast Cancer Survival
A study presented on June 6 at SNM shows an investigational molecular imaging biomarker may determine how certain recurrent breast cancer patients will respond to therapy.
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SNM: SPECT/CT Helps Diagnose Renal Transplant Complications
At the 57th SNM annual meeting, researchers presented a study revealing that SPECT/CT can detect a broad range of post renal transplant complications, allowing clinicians to better diagnose and treat patients.
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SNM: PET Directs Radiation Treatment Planning
According to research presented at SNM annual meeting in Salt Lake City, PET imaging will potentially improve radiation treatment planning and outcomes in head and neck cancers.
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SPECT Technology Update
Lowering scan times and reducing radiation dose without impacting image quality helps patients and technologists who perform the exams. SPECT and SPECT/CT manufacturers are launching hardware and software solutions to meet these nuclear medicine imaging objectives.
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News in Molecular Imaging
Latest News from Molecular Imaging Insight Magazine
To view the latest edition of Molecular Imaging Insight magazine and learn of more news in molecular imaging, click here.
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What's New
Check out What's New at www.mi-lifenet.com to find over 50 new additions and enhancements in the Outreach Kit resources. New features include:
• Patient Advocacy Awareness module
• CancerCare® module
• 13N Ammonia Cardiac Imaging Kit
• expanded Outreach Calendar
• Quick links to the Abstract Database, PET Scan Info website, and the PETNET Direct Custom Report Writer
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