Health Imaging & IT - September 2008 - (Page 8)

neWs upDate Government Watch House committee passes revised health IT bill The House Energy and Commerce Committee has unanimously approved legislation designed to promote faster adoption of EHRs. Those who sponsored the PRO(TECH)T (Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment and Easing Communication Through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008), made concessions to privacy advocates and to those who use health IT, as they modified the bill (H.R. 6357) approved in June. The PRO(TECH)T Act aims to promote national use of EHRs by 2014, which President George W. Bush called for in 2004. The bill also would provide $560 million in grants and loans for healthcare providers to acquire EHR systems.  Business BuZZ GE Healthcare taps new CEO GE has appointed John Dineen as president and CEO of GE Healthcare. He replaces Joseph Hogan, who joined ABB, a producer of power and automation systems, as CEO on Sept. 1. Dineen is a 22-year GE veteran and has been president and CEO of GE Transportation since 2005.  Smaller U.S. hospitals to increase imaging equipment budget 32% in 2009 U.S. hospitals with fewer than 200 beds are budgeting major increases in their capital spending for diagnostic imaging equipment in 2009, compared to 2008 spending levels, according to a new study by IMV. Bill seeks transparency with imaging self-referrals Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced legislation which would amend the Stark Law, requiring physicians to disclose their financial interest in certain imaging services provided through the in-office ancillary exception. The bill, S. 3343, or the Medicare Imaging Disclosure Sunshine Act of 2008, also would provide patients with a list of alternative imaging providers in the area. If approved, the requirement would become effective Jan. 1, 2010.  Planar sells medical business segment to NDSsi for $34 million NDS Surgical Imaging (NDSsi) has acquired Dome Imaging Systems, the medical business unit of Planar Systems, for a cash purchase of $34.25 million. Dome manufactures medical display products for diagnostic imaging and patient care applications. FDA: CT may affect electronic medical devices The FDA has issued a preliminary public health notification, stating that x-rays used during CT exams may cause some implanted and external electronic medical devices to malfunction. The agency also provided recommendations to reduce the potential risk. The agency said it has received a small number of reports of adverse events in which CT scans may have interfered with electronic medical devices, including pacemakers, defibrillators and neurostimulators as well as implanted or externally worn drug infusion pumps.  Many radiology practices don’t use off-hour services A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that radiology practices that can provide sufficient professional interpretation of their current image volume do not contract for off-site interpretations, even if the cost is lower. Federal panel: Stop screening men at age 75 for prostate cancer Men age 75 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer and younger men should discuss the benefits and harms of the prostate-specific antigen test with their clinicians before being tested, according to a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Task Force found evidence that screening for prostate cancer provided few health benefits, but instead, led to substantial physical harms and some psychological harms in men age 75 and older. 8 Health Imaging & IT | September 2008 CMS issues inpatient payment rule The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final rule regarding the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), which includes many of the anticipated Stark rules. The proposals include burden of proof, per-click leasing arrangements, set-inadvance and percentage-based compensation, stand-in-the-shoes provisions, services furnished under arrangements, alternative criteria for satisfying certain exceptions and a period of disallowance for noncompliant financial relationships.  Philips sells MedQuist stake Royal Philips Electronics has completed the sale of its approximate 69.5 percent ownership interest in MedQuist to CBay Systems Holdings for about $285 million. STAY CONNECTED: For daily news, log onto HealthImaging.com—and sign up for Health Imaging News. HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

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Health Imaging & IT - September 2008 Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise News Update Imaging Weighs the Evidence Radiation Oncology Tackles IT Integration PET/CT: Diagnosing Cardiac Disease—Adding Function to Form Modality Update People & Technology In Practice Reader's Resource Technology Outlook

Health Imaging & IT - September 2008

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