News From Around the Web
> A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate this week would eliminate cost sharing for Medicare beneficiaries receiving a routine screening colonoscopy, even if the polyp is removed during the procedure. Current Medicare policy deems that colonoscopies are a free preventive service, but that cost sharing is required if the polyp is removing during screening. Article
> Ultrasound can replace chest radiography in diagnosing pneumonia in children, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, HealthDay News reported. For the study, the researchers compared chest ultrasound and radiography findings in patients ranging from 3 months to 18 years of age and found the two procedures were equivalent statistically "suggesting the potential for chest ultrasonography to replace chest X-rays in detecting pneumonia in children." Article
> A new study shows that while the use of CT for evaluating kidney stones is frequently used in emergency rooms--despite the radiation exposure and added costs associated with CT--the use of ultrasound rather than CT results in no significant difference in patient outcomes. Announcement
Health Finance News
> Several healthcare finance transparency measures could save the sector as much as $100 billion over the next decade, according to a new analysis. Providers have multiple options to expand consumer access to cost information, according to the analysis, performed by the Center for Studying Health System Change and published by the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center. For example, they can create an all-claims database where consumers can obtain specific hospital price information for procedures from all commercial and government payers. This alone could save $61 billion over a decade, the analysis suggested. Article
Provider News
> Although reimbursement changes related to the Affordable Care Act make it difficult for many practices to give raises to their existing physicians new data from the Medical Group Management Association suggests that the increased demand created by the law continues to drive more competitive offers to recruit new doctors. Article
And Finally... I am what I am? Article