News From Around the Web
> Negative vaccine views spread more quickly on Twitter than positive views, according to new research from Penn State University. Using a computer algorithm for organizing tweets, the researchers analyzed 318,379 tweets expressing either positive, negative or neutral sentiments about the H1N1 vaccine in 2009. "Cause and effect are difficult to unravel in data such as these, so we can only speculate about why we saw this happen," lead researcher and professor of biology Marcel Salathé said in an announcement. "Whatever the reason, the observation is troubling because it suggests that negative opinions on vaccination may spread more easily than positive opinions." Announcement
> Axial Exchange launched an index that ranks hospitals based on patients' participation in their own care via personal health technologies and social media. "Patient engagement is important because management of chronic illnesses involves action by both patient and provider," Paul Takahashi, an associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic and a board advisor to Axial Exchange, said in an announcement. "Patients should feel empowered to be part of the medical plan, because research shows that active engagement can lead to improved outcomes and increased satisfaction. Announcement
Provider News
> Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) should receive the same compensation from Medicare as physicians for performing higher-level services, a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said last week. Article
> Vermont took the lead in efforts to implement federal and state healthcare reforms in May 2011 when Gov. Peter Shumlin signed legislation to implement Green Mountain Care, a single-payer, publicly financed, universal healthcare system. There are lessons to be taken from Vermont's reform efforts, argues a perspective piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Article
Medical Imaging News
> Adjustments made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services concerning room use time in 2013 have resulted in dramatically reduced reimbursements for two MRI codes: CPT code 73721 (lower extremity joint MRI) and 73221 (upper extremity joint MRI). Post
> Developing competent coders and ensuring that radiologists follow best practices when it comes to documentation are just some of the steps radiology managers can take to ensure they'll be running a profitable radiology practice, according to Jeff Majchrzak, vice president of radiology services at Panacea Healthcare Solutions in Wesley Chapel, Fla. Article
And Finally... I'll remember this for the next time I decide to eat out in Montana. Article