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February 20, 2013

Top Stories

Navix, Yankee Alliance team up to expand cardiovascular imaging
Navix has entered a deal with Yankee Alliance that will allow about 100 acute care hospitals and some 12,600 member organizations in the Yankee network to broaden or establish cardiovascular imaging programs. Navix offers diagnostic services including nuclear medicine. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (2/19)

Study links cardiometabolic risk factors to premature death
Researchers looked at data on 9,245 people ages 12 to 39 and found that cardiometabolic risk factors such as central obesity, smoking and hyperglycemia were associated with a higher risk of death before age 55. Analysis also showed a higher risk of all-cause death related to hypertension and high total and non-HDL cholesterol in women, but not in men. The study appeared online in the journal Pediatrics. MedPage Today (free registration) (2/18)

Medical Focus

Gift bans influence prescribing of brand-name drugs, studies find
Physicians who attended medical schools that restricted industry-provided meals and gifts were less likely to prescribe brand-name drugs than those whose schools did not implement such restrictions, a study in BMJ revealed. Another study published in Medical Care supported the findings, noting lower prescribing of widely promoted, brand-name drugs after gift bans became common. American Medical News (free content) (2/18)

Research ties income inequality to hospital readmissions
States with the highest level of income inequality had an additional 40,000 hospital readmissions over three years compared with other states, a study in BMJ found. Researchers found no evidence that greater divides between rich and poor were substantially linked to increased mortality risk. HealthDay News (2/15)

Regulatory & Policy

Proposed rule would streamline provider regulations, cut costs
CMS has issued a proposed rule that streamlines health care provider requirements and makes changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, reforms the agency said may help providers save $676 million a year. Comments on the proposed rule, which would also affect other policy areas, will be accepted until April 8. Health Industry Washington Watch blog (2/18)

Concerns grow about higher health insurance premiums under ACA
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act are increasingly concerned that the law will lead to higher health insurance premiums, particularly for younger, healthier Americans, experts say. State regulators also are concerned that younger consumers will opt out of coverage, leaving the pool weighted toward older and sicker Americans whose premiums, under the law, are limited to three times those of younger participants. "The single biggest issue we face now is affordability," said Jill Zorn of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (2/18)

ASNC News

Bringing value to your nuclear cardiology lab
All physicians and technologists practicing nuclear cardiology are encouraged to attend ASNC's Nuclear Cardiology Today program, which will be held April 26-28 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This program will "bring value to your nuclear lab" by offering the most up-to-date protocols in imaging procedures. Participants will be able to gain competence and improve performance on procedures that reduce radiation dose and apply appropriate use criteria and guidelines when setting up nuclear cardiology studies. This program also will increase learners' competence in solving clinical and business issues facing imaging professionals. Register early for the lowest rate!

Learn more about ASNC ->

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