U.S. healthcare spending growth decelerated in 2008, increasing 4.4 percent compared to 6 percent in 2007, as spending slowed for nearly all healthcare goods and services, particularly for hospitals, according to statistics released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Total healthcare expenditures reached $2.3 trillion in 2008, which translated to $7,681 per person and 16.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.

Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, Fla., and Franklin County Memorial Hospital in Meadville, Miss., have both installed NovaRad's workflow solutions in their facilities.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed its contractors to hold claims including services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for the first 10 business days of January (Jan. 1 through Jan. 15) for 2010 dates of service. According to the agency, the reason for the retention of the claims is the possibility of legislative changes.

The cuts to cardiology payment planned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as part of the final 2010 Physician Fee Schedule, are bad public policy. Not only that, but they represent a grave threat to cardiology practices and patient access.

Adoption of EMRs goes hand-in-hand with improved practice management strategies, gained either through software programs or organizational initiatives.

IBM is extending its lending arm, IBM Global Financing, to four EHR providers--Siemens Healthcare, Lavender & Wyatt Systems, Healthcare Management Systems and SCC Soft Computer--through new financing agreements.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) plans to award a contract for a targeted design study to inform the creation of an all-payor, all-claims database of claims records.

RIS/PACS provider NovaRad has extended its client base in California, with the addition of two healthcare facilities, Preferred Diagnostic Imaging in Bellflower and CareMore Medical Enterprises in Cerritos.