Think twice before requesting a cholesterol lab test to assess a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease. A study published online Jan. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes determined that doctors could obtain comparable results faster and at less cost using a multistage screening strategy.

Hospitals and physicians challenging auditor decisions on Medicare reimbursement may have a long wait to have their day in court. The federal office that handles appeals is warning providers that it has temporarily suspended assignment of most new requests in an effort to whittle down its 16-month wait time.

Under the False Claims Act, it is illegal to submit a false or fraudulent claim to Medicare or Medicaid, intentionally or not. 

Any strategy that raised thrombolysis rates, including increased use of imaging, ultimately would pay for itself through cost savings and improved quality of life for stroke patients, an analysis published online Jan. 2 in Stroke concluded. 

Cardiology and radiology physicians continued to earn some of the highest levels of compensation in 2012 compared with other specialties despite some categories experiencing a year-to-year decline.

What is the first thing one newly enrolled customer did after her insurance coverage took effect? She set up an appointment with a cardiologist. The New York Times offers a glimpse of how hospitals have prepared for an influx of new patients under the Affordable Care Act.

Despite the largely unfavorable view of the Affordable Care Act and its potential impact on the U.S. healthcare system held by the majority of the public and many politicians, a blog published online in Health Affairs argued that healthcare leaders do not share such a pessimistic outlook. A survey found that 65 percent of executives believe the healthcare system will improve because of the new law.

The Senate passed a compromise budget agreement that includes a patch on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula through March 31, 2014. The patch temporarily puts a 24 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement on hold.