Imaging lobbyists converge on Capitol Hill
Patients and their advocates, led by the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance, gathered yesterday at the U.S. Capitol to ask Congress to reject proposals by the Obama administration and U.S. House of Representatives to change the “utilization assumption” from the current 50% to 75% or 95%, respectively. They argued that changing the current Medicare formula would amount to deep and arbitrary cuts for diagnostic imaging services with devastating consequences for patient access to life-saving diagnostics, particularly in rural communities. Thirteen leading patient advocacy groups officially submitted a letter to the Senate Finance and House Tri-Committees urging members to adopt legislation that preserves access to diagnostic imaging. The letter stated that any “proposal to increase the utilization assumption for certain imaging equipment including CTs and MRIs will result in additional draconian cuts for imaging services.”
Point-of-care Zonare ultrasound enters service
Zonare Medical Systems has begun shipping its new z.one ultra sp ultrasound system designed for point-of-care use, such as emergency medicine, interventional radiology, venous ablation, anesthesiology and ob/gyn imaging. The software-based architecture of the z.one ultra sp allows the system to convert easily from a full-featured, cart-based system into a premium compact system with no sacrifice in image quality or performance, according to the company. Among the first recipients are Barnes Jewish Hospital at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis and Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, CA.
