News From Around the Web
> A nuclear medicine therapy increases survival for patients who fail to respond to current first-line and second-line treatments for colorectal cancer liver metastases, according to an article published in the November issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Researchers found that patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases who undergo radioembolization with Y-90 microspheres have an overall survival of more than 12 months. Announcement
> Having U.S. citizenship increases the odds that a woman will undergo a mammogram or be screened for cervical or colorectal cancer, according to a study presented at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in Boston. The researchers found that foreign-born women who are non-citizens and have been living in the U.S. for less than five years have 69 percent lower odds of being screened for colorectal cancer, as well as significantly lower odds of being screened for cervical or breast cancer. Announcement
> The American Society of Clinical Oncology has released a second round of top five tests, procedures, and treatments whose common use and clinical value aren't supported by current evidence, Diagnostic Imaging reports. The list--part of the Choosing Wisely campaign--includes avoiding the overuse of PET and PET-CT scanning to monitor for cancer recurrence in patients who have finished their initial treatments and show no signs of cancer. Article
Health Finance News
> California hospital operator Sutter Health has agreed to settle a four-year-old whistleblower lawsuit filed by an auditor over the way it billed for anesthesiology services. Sutter will pay $46 million to settle the litigation, with $26 million going to the auditing firm Rockville Recovery Associates and its attorneys, and another $20 million going into California's General Fund. The 28-hospital system also agreed to bill for anesthesiology services at a flat rate, as opposed to the hourly rate many hospitals in Golden State currently use. Article
Provider News
> Although the healthcare industry initially jumped on the accountable care organization (ACO) bandwagon to improve healthcare outcomes, lower costs and boost patient satisfaction, there has been little growth in new ACOs since September and it appears as if the downward trend will continue. Article
And Finally... Thief goes nuts. Article