News From Around the Web
> The uninsured rate in the U.S. fell 2.2 percentage points to 13.4% in the second quarter of 2014, according to a new Gallup poll. This is the lowest quarterly average recorded since Gallup and Healthways began tracking the percentage of uninsured Americans in 2008. Poll results
> Health savings account (HSA) plans are a valuable financial tool for consumers, providing flexibility to cover immediate medical expenses and to save for future healthcare costs, according to a new survey conducted by America's Health Insurance Plans and the American Bankers Association's HSA Council. Announcement
> With its patient-centered medical home, Baltimore-based CareFirst Blue learned that saving big in healthcare means incentivizing providers to deliver high-quality, low-cost care.
Medical Imaging News
> Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have developed an algorithm that can help diagnose appendicitis in children and reduce the need for computed tomography, Reuters Health reports. Article
> The proposed rule for changes to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system for 2015, recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, would significantly increase breast biopsy payments. Article
Provider News
Roughly one-third of Americans are obese, and as the numbers continue to rise, hospitals around the country are investing in equipment to accommodate more plus-sized patients. Article
And Finally... Bambi, we're going to need to see your ID. Article