ACR-SIR Toolkit Helps Interventional Radiologists Show Value of Clinical IR Practice
The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) have created a toolkit of downloadable resources to help local interventional radiologists (IRs) educate hospital executives and radiology group officers on the clinical and economic benefits of starting a full-fledged, in-house IR practice.Visitwww.acr.org/irto access the ACR-SIR Toolkit.Please visit the following items for more information on the new ACR-SIR Toolkit:Advocacy In Action articleVoice of Radiology Blog post (Source: American College of Radiology)
Source: American College of Radiology - December 1, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

ACR Statement on the Nomination of Rep. Tom Price as HHS Secretary
The American College of Radiology (ACR) applauds the selection of Representative Tom Price (R-GA), MD, as President-Elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ACR is pleased that an experienced, board-certified physician who also served as a state legislator and prominent member of the U.S. House of Representatives will be guiding this important government agency that has direct jurisdiction over federal health care policy. The U.S. Senate should expeditiously move to consider and confirm Dr. Price for this cabinet position. ACR would also like to congratulate Seema Ver...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 29, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

JACR Redefines Radiology Health Care Delivery in Tandem With Patients
Reston, Va.— In a first, a special issue of theJournal of the American College of Radiology(JACR®)explores radiology patient engagement from the patient perspective. Original articles provide valuable insights to help radiologists make the care they provide more patient-centered.“This issue is a first for theJournal of the American College of Radiology: Patients, caregivers and advocates serve as co-authors or reviewers, in other words, co-producers of meaningful content,” said James V. Rawson, MD, FACR, chair of theAmerican College of Radiology (ACR)Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care.&ld...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 23, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Register for Free Webinar: MACRA 101 for Small and Rural Practices
Dec. 7 at 2pm Eastern Time, the ACR will offer a free webinar by Greg Nicola, MD, to help small and rural radiology practices effectively participate in value-based health care delivery and payment as defined by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Attendees can learn Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) basics, steps practices can take to participate under the 2017 MACRA Final Rule, and how small and rural practice MACRA participation may differ from other practices. Register for the webinar today!  (Source: American College of Radiology)
Source: American College of Radiology - November 21, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

RLI Seeks Nominees for Annual Leadership Luminary Award
Reston, VA— TheRadiology Leadership Institute® (RLI) is accepting nominations for its 2017Leadership Luminary Award, an honorary designation given to outstanding radiology professionals to celebrate lifetime achievements embodying leadership and innovation.Nomination forms must be submitted online by Feb. 17, 2017.“The RLI proudly recognizes exceptional leaders who have advanced the science or practice of diagnostic radiology or radiation oncology. These exceptional individuals will be remembered for both their actions and enduring legacy,” said Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, RLI chief medical officer and ch...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 16, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Internists: Join R-SCAN to Optimize Medical Imaging and Earn CME, MOC Credit
Washington, DC — Internists certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) can now earn Practice Assessment Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit and optimize medical imaging care by participating in theAmerican College of Radiology (ACR)Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network™ (R-SCAN) program. Through R-SCAN, internists collaborate with radiologists to select a topic from the ABIM Foundation’s Choosing Wisely® campaign for which there is potential toreduce unwarranted imaging and promote important discussions between clinicians and patients about what care is app...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 16, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule for Calendar Year 2017
The American College of Radiology (ACR) has prepared a detailed analysis of final changes to the payment provisions of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) in calendar year 2017. The final rule has a 60-day comment period closing in December, and the ACR will provide detailed comments. The rule changes are effective January 1, 2017.Read more» (Source: American College of Radiology)
Source: American College of Radiology - November 10, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

ACR Preliminary Summary of Radiology Provisions in the 2017 MPFS Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule on November 2, 2016. Upon initial review, the American College of Radiology (ACR) is pleased with several provisions within the rule. CMS has recognized the value provided by radiologists in providing mammography services through an increase in the physician work relative value units (RVUs) for diagnostic mammography and maintaining the current value for screening mammography. Additionally, ACR physicians and staff held numerous conference calls and meetings with CMS on the topic of appropriate use criteria (...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 3, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Physician Groups Join Forces to Improve Use of Head CT Scans in Children
Washington, DC – The Image Gently Alliance, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery and allied medical organizations have launched the“Think A-Head” campaign to help providers appropriately obtain and perform computed tomography (CT) scans in children with minor head injuries. The effort will also equip providers and parents with resources to help them communicate effectively when CT scans may (or may not) be the best option to gain proper diagnosis. The“Think A-Head” campaign provides tools an...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 2, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

ACR Preliminary Summary of HOPPS Final Rule
On Nov. 1, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releasedits final rule with 60-day comment period for changes to the calendar year (CY) 2017 hospital outpatient prospective payment system (HOPPS). In this rule, CMS finalizes many of items from the proposed rule including a further restructure of the imaging ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), an expansion of its use of comprehensive APCs (C-APCs), a new modifier for reduction in film-based X-ray services and expanded definition of the applicable codes, and some loosening of their implementation of Section 603B to impose site-neutral payments fo...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 2, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

ACR Education Center Marks 10,000th Course Registration
Reston, VA— TheAmerican College of Radiology (ACR)Education Center marked its 10,000th course registration, magnifying its powerful role in helping radiologists sharpen skills, strengthen practices and become better providers in a value-based collaborative health care system.“The ACR Education Center, the training center for today’s clinician, continues to offer an unparalleled case-based training experience— giving radiologists hands-on instruction in an intense simulation environment from world-class faculty in various subspecialties,” said Pablo R. Ros, MD, MPH, PhD, FACR, the center’...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 1, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

International Celebration Spotlights Breast Imaging Advances
Washington, DC— On Tuesday, Nov. 8, more than 140 medical societies worldwide will mark theInternational Day of Radiology (IDoR), celebrating the thousands of lives saved by the many contributions of breast imagers and radiation oncologists.IDoR 2016 will spotlight breast imaging and the essential role that radiology plays in the detection, diagnosis and management of breast disease. This special day, commemorating the 121st anniversary of the discovery of the X-ray by German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen, is sponsored by theAmerican College of Radiology (ACR),Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) andEuropean Soc...
Source: American College of Radiology - November 1, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

New Image Wisely Radiation Safety Case Covers Balancing Image Quality and Radiation Dose in Cardiac CT Angiography
Balancing Image Quality and Radiation Dose in Cardiac CT Angiography, a newImage Wisely® radiation safety case— is now available to help radiologists, imaging technologists and medical physicists to assess their understanding of important radiation safety concepts, including dose monitoring and optimization. This is the newest in a series of free, online and mobile-compatible Image Wisely educational offerings, developed with the assistance of theAmerican College of Radiology (ACR). This case explains how cardiac CT angiography scan parameters affect radiation dose exposure and image quality.“Cardiac CT ang...
Source: American College of Radiology - October 27, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Radiology Leadership Institute Voted Best Radiologist Training Program
Reston, VA— TheRadiology Leadership Institute® (RLI), which provides radiologists with high-quality training in leadership and professional development, has won the“Best Radiologist Training Program” award in the 2016Auntminnie.com“Minnies.”“The Radiology Leadership Institute equips radiology professionals with the leadership and business management skills they need to succeed in their careers and to help their practices and departments to do well in the rapidly changing landscape of U.S. health care,” said Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA, RLI chief medical officer and chair of theAmeri...
Source: American College of Radiology - October 26, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Radiologists: Power Up Value-Based Imaging at ACR 2017
Washington, DC— Get help navigating value-based medical imaging practice and reimbursement atACR 2017— The Crossroads of Radiology®.Early-bird discounted online registration is open for theAmerican College of Radiology annual meeting to be held May 21–25, 2017, in Washington, DC.“Medicare, in one of the biggest changes in its 50-year history, has overhauled how it pays doctors,rewarding clinicians for quality patient care. How is this change impacting radiologists and their practices? Duringfive days of powerhouse programming, attendees will gain practical knowledge and tools to maintain thrivin...
Source: American College of Radiology - October 19, 2016 Category: Radiology Source Type: news