Digirad

nSPEED, Digirad’s advanced 3D reconstruction software provides superior image quality over existing 2D reconstruction techniques by producing sharp, high contrast images. Stop by booth 431 and get a closer look at this ground-breaking software! imaging

Are you attending SNMMI 2024? Don't miss out on the opportunity to see the Digirad X-ACT+ in action at Booth 431! This cutting-edge cardiac imaging system is the only full field-of-view, triple-head system on the market with attenuation correction.

Experience the power of nSPEED2 and get the most accurate results with the X-ACT+. Don't settle for less - visit us at Booth 431 and see the future of SPECT MPI Imaging! +

The TTG team is all set up and ready to go at SNMMI 2024. If you're attending the event, be sure to stop by Booth 431 to say hello and discover more about our multi-vendor Equipment and Upgrades for your Nuclear Medicine Department. Just keep an eye out for Gerald the Giraffe, and you'll easily spot us! See you there! 🦒🌟

For almost nine years ASNC has been lobbying Congress to change or repeal the AUC mandate. Those efforts have paid off in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule; the AUC program was paused and all of its regulations were rescinded. Read the full story here:

Medicare drops AUC requirement for advanced imaging, ASNC celebrates "This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.

Great information at the Virtual Cardiac PET Technologist workshop!

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Developed by technologists for technologists, this workshop will deliver two days of dedicated education from technologists, physicists, and physicians sharing their hands-on experiences and insights. This is where technologist team members need to be to learn how to start and manage a success...

The SNMMI does great work leading the industry and needs your help!

Please respond: Survey on radiopharmaceutical administration
US-based SNMMI members: SNMMI is collecting data related to how members administer radiopharmaceuticals and techniques. Please take this short, 4-minute survey to tell us about your experience with radiopharmaceutical administration. To get started, click here or copy and paste this link in your browser: https://hubs.ly/Q02jkJMH0. If you have any questions, please contact Julia K. Trigger, MS, at [email protected].

Venous Access Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Technologists! Looking for involvement? The SNMMI is calling you!

UPTAKE: Empowering Technologists: Introducing the Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) - SNMMI

UPTAKE: Empowering Technologists: Introducing the Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) - SNMMI The Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) is an integral part of the SNMMI Technologist Section. How can TAG help you and the profession?

Looking forward to this great topic!

ACNM Webinar Series - History of NM Technology

ACNM Webinar Series - History of NM Technology Organizers: Katherine Zukotynski, BASc, MD, PhD, P.Eng; Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD, FACNM; Twyla Bartel, DO, MBA, FACNM Moderator: Aspan Meherzad Shokrekhuda, MD

ASNC is offering the second of a three-part Webinar on Cardiac PET Real World Applications. This session is "The Role of F-18-labeled Tracers in Obese Patients."

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Tune in to ASNC’s new “Cardiac PET: Real-world Applications Webinar Series” to examine how F-18-labeled radiopharmaceuticals are poised to transform the diagnosis and management of three patient populations for whom imaging with current tracers and methodologies has been challenging.

See the latest SMMI newsletter containing Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Final Rule on the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)

HPRA December 2023 Newsletter - SNMMI HPRA released their December 2023 Newsletter. Highlights include updates on CMS HOPPS Rules, The FIND Act, and other legislative initiatives.

Great interview on Cardiovascular PET!

The expanding scope of FDG-PET in nuclear cardiac imaging

The expanding scope of FDG-PET in nuclear cardiac imaging Jamie Bourque, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about the growing number of ways FDG-PET scans are being used in cardiology. This includes evaluating inflammation, tracking EP device infections and much more.

ADVOCACY ALERT: CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rules

301 Moved Permanently

Now in JNC: New Templates for Reporting Cardiac PET Studies

Atlas for reporting PET myocardial perfusion imaging and myocardial blood flow in clinical practice: an information statement from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology - Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Home Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Article Atlas for reporting PET myocardial perfusion imaging and myocardial blood flow in clinical practice: an information statement from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology ASNC INFORMATION STATEMENT Published: 27 October 2023 (2023) Journal of Nuclear Car...

Watch here for more from the ASNC's "Ready for PET" series!

Ready for PET: Instrumentation

Ready for PET: Instrumentation Presenters:Gary Heller, MD, PhD, MASNC, and James Case, PhD, MASNCAcknowledgment of Commercial Support:Financial support for this educational resource provid...

Cardiologists, heart surgeons and imaging experts push for changes that could prevent ‘permanent and unjustifiable Medicare cuts’

Cardiologists, heart surgeons and imaging experts push for changes that could prevent ‘permanent and unjustifiable Medicare cuts’ More than 100 U.S. medical societies are throwing their support behind a new proposal that could reform out-of-date Medicare policies and help limit future payment cuts.

Post Ischemia Trial and Clinical Decision Making - 1637070

Post Ischemia Trial and Clinical Decision Making - 1637070

TTG Imaging Solutions is ready for Toronto! Come see us at booth 209!

ASNC2023

ASNC2023 VIEW PROGRAM | REGISTRATION | NETWORKING EVENTS | EXHIBITORS | TRAVEL There's Still Time to Register for Nuclear Cardiology's Premier Event of the Year!

Display event - Tutorials for Simulation, Data Analysis, and Reconstruction

Display event - Tutorials for Simulation, Data Analysis, and Reconstruction Tutorials for Simulation, Data Analysis, and Reconstruction in SPECT and PET September 26, 2023 | 12:00 pm ET SNMMI Physics, Instrumentation, and Data Sciences Council Organizer: Benjamin Auer, PhD Moderator: Benjamin Auer, PhD Speakers: Benjamin Auer, PhD Emilie Roncali, PhD Course Summary: This we...

Looking for Cardiac PET training? 2024 dates announced!

petworkshops

petworkshops Join us in 2024 for Cardiac PET Virtual Workshops Participate in case-based programs uniquely formatted to your knowledge level to enhance interaction and learning.

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology This new series features leaders in the field covering everything you need to know about how to get started with your cardiac PET program. Stay tuned for more videos!

New! Cardiac PET Model Coverage Policy
Will Help Prevent Care Delays and Denials

Last week, ASNC published The ASNC Model Coverage Policy: 2023 Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography, a document written by leading cardiac imagers to encourage consistent and correct coverage policies for cardiac PET.
The model coverage policy defines several categories of clinical indications where cardiac PET and myocardial blood flow assessment should be universally covered by Medicare contractors, Medicaid programs, and private payers. The categories include:
• Cardiac PET perfusion imaging for diagnosis, prognosis, response to therapy, and evaluation of regional and global myocardial blood flow; and
• Cardiac PET metabolic imaging for myocardial viability, cardiac sarcoidosis, and infection.
All the Evidence in One User-friendly Document
The new model coverage policy for cardiac PET provides tables detailing how the clinical indications for cardiac PET correspond to the appropriate use criteria (AUC) and the ICD-10 Clinical Modification codes. ASNC intends for the model coverage policy to function as a helpful resource for the cardiology community, referring physicians, health insurers, and billing/coding staff.
By compiling the current evidence supporting medical necessity for each indication, ASNC aims to –
• Help payers improve current preauthorization processes that can restrict patients' access to appropriate imaging and lead to dangerous care delays and denials;
• Support appropriate cardiac imaging by providing cardiac imagers, referrers, and insurers with clear indications and supporting data, including references to the medical literature and cross-references to the AUC; and
• Assist practices with accurate and complete coding and billing.

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Last week, United Healthcare (UHC) announced a plan to reduce prior authorization requirements for many procedure codes, including for SPECT MPI (codes 78451-78454), in Medicare Advantage plans. The new policy will go into effect Nov. 1, 2023. 

How Does a PET-guided Management Strategy Affect CAD Outcomes? How Does a PET-guided Management Strategy Affect CAD Outcomes?

Find out at the ASNC2023 Opening Plenary Session! CENTURY Trial Co-investigator Nils Johnson, MD, MS, will discuss the results of the randomized clinical trial comparing Comprehensive Care, including medical-lifestyle treatment and PET-guided interventions, with Standard Community Care in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). Attend ASNC2023 Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 at The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto, or virtually on ASNC's interactive learning platform. Advanced registration savings available for a limited time. REGISTER NOW.

ASNC2023 Hands-on Track Features Amyloid and Myocardial Blood Flow Cases. Register to join small-group sessions where participants will interpret cases using Cedars-Sinai – The Cardiac Suite, Emory Toolbox, or INVIA software.

Attend a hands-on session if your lab is new to amyloid or myocardial blood flow or if you are considering expanding into these services. In each session, ASNC experts will read cases, reinforcing teaching points and guideline recommendations, while learners manipulate the cases on their laptops.

Learn more and register at ASNC:

ASNC2023 Registration

Have you checked out the ASNC Interview Series? This collection of videos explores the latest topics in nuclear cardiology through conversations with leaders in the field. Watch an episode and get cutting-edge insights from experts in the field. Access is free and can be found at this link:https://www.asnc.org/interviewseries

Digirad had a fantastic time this past weekend at ASNC’s Nuclear Cardiology Today show in Boston. Exequiel Zaballero was on hand and had the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and showcase our dedicated cardiac SPECT MPI camera with attenuation correction, the X-ACT+. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and innovations from Digirad!

Call to Action: ASNC is urging us to tell Congress to pass the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act!

This legislation, if passed, will add a permanent, inflationary update based on the MEI to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. This bill is an important step toward providing financial stability for physician practices and thus supporting Medicare patients' access to care.

Make your voice heard and send a message to Congress through ASNC's Action Center today at this link:

Support H.R. 2474 the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act Earlier this month, Rep. Ruiz,MD (D-California),  Rep. Bucshon, MD (R-Indiana), Rep. Bera (D- California), and  Rep. Miller- Meeks, MD (R-Iowa) introduced C (H.R. 2474) If passed, the legislation would add a permanent, inflationary update...

Health policy update from ASNC: CMS issued a final rule that puts in place better guardrails to stop Medicare Advantage plans from denying enrollees basic benefits. The improvements are in response to a 2022 report from the Office of the Inspector General that found Medicare Advantage plans were denying care that met Medicare coverage rules.

The document also includes important updates relating to requirements for Medicare Advantage Plans and regulations around the review of adverse medical necessity decisions. You can view the final rule here:

Federal Register :: Request Access Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

New from ASNC: Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced legislation that, if passed, would add a permanent, inflationary update based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

In its annual report to Congress, MedPAC urged Congress to tie a physician payment update to the MEI, but recommended the update should be just half of the MEI. ASNC holds the position that half of the MEI is inadequate given rising practice costs, as explained in a letter asking Congress to pass legislation providing for an update based on the full MEI.

You can learn more about the bill here: https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-doctors-congress-announce-legislation-provide-certainty

Attention all Cardiac Stress Technicians and Nuclear Medicine Technologists! Digirad is seeking talented individuals to join our team in New Jersey, California, and New Hampshire.

Chart a new path and transform your career with Digirad. We are the leading provider of advanced diagnostic imaging services and offer a dynamic work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Don't miss out on this amazing chance to work with cutting-edge technology and make a difference in people's lives. Visit our website to learn more and apply today!

Career Center - Digirad Ready for a new adventure? You Have Options. Digirad is the nationwide leader in mobile healthcare. We’re looking for professionals with strong communication and customer service skills who are ready for a new opportunity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjqZ0Qye0w View Current Open Positions Who...