Radiology utilization presents referral, payment challenges

Ryan M. Nunley, MD; Alok Sharan, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Jamie Genuario, MD; the Washington Health Policy Fellows

Health policy officials are increasingly concerned that the growing utilization of advanced technology, especially diagnostic imaging, is a major factor in the rapid increase in healthcare costs. Radiology costs in the United States have grown to more than $100 billion annually1; diagnostic imaging is the fastest-growing expense for health plans, and is now second only to pharmaceuticals in total expenses.

State Societies share advocacy strategies at NOLC

Susan Koshy, JD

Scope of practice issues, physician-owned therapy services remain “hot topics” When state orthopaedic society representatives converged on Washington, D.C., as part of the 2007 National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference (NOLC), they not only visited their elected officials on Capitol Hill, they also spent time with each other, sharing strategies and information on effecting change at the state level.

Tort reform results keep rolling in

David Teuscher, MD

Turnaround in Texas results in explosive market Sometimes legislative success yields results beyond those predicted and causes unanticipated new challenges. Such is the case in Texas, where com-prehensive medical liability reforms were enacted by the state legislature in 2003 and subsequently supported by a Constitutional amendment establishing a $250,000 non-economic aggregate cap for all physicians.