Special issue of JACR to help radiologists in directing health policy and budget discussions

To be published online Monday, Oct. 1, a special issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology will focus on health policy and radiology's role in health care reform. Topics to be covered include utilization management in radiology, clinical decision support, value-based health care payment systems and patient-centered outcomes in imaging. The October health policy issue was guest edited by Ruth Carlos, MD, MS, FACR, and James Rawson, MD, FACR.

"Health care reform will continue to be a central issue in society regardless of the outcome of the election in November. Information presented in this special issue of the JACR will help radiologists be involved in directing overall health policy and budget discussions," said James Rawson, MD, FACR, guest editor of the October health policy issue.

Articles to include:

Utilization Management in Radiology, Part 1: Rationale, History and Current Status
Richard Duszak Jr., MD, Jonathan W. Berlin, MD, MBA
Utilization management in medical imaging has garnered considerable attention; current approaches include radiology benefits managers and real-time order entry decision support tools.

Utilization Management in Radiology, Part 2: Perspectives and Future Directions
Richard Duszak Jr., Jonathan W. Berlin, MD, MBA
Utilization management in medical imaging has garnered considerable attention; perspectives from other health care sectors may provide insight into future challenges and opportunities for radiologists.

Measuring Radiology's Value in Time Saved
Christoph I. Lee, MD, MSHS, Dieter R. Enzmann, MD
In the new era of value-based health care payment systems, time saved will be a powerful measure in regard to radiology's value equation, as it affects both the numerator and denominator.

Patient-Centered Outcomes in Imaging: Quantifying Value
Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS, Diana S. M. Buist, PhD, Karen J. Wernli, PhD, J. Shannon Swan, MD
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, founded in response to the Health care reform law, sets the research agenda for evaluating patient-centered outcomes and disseminates findings for implementation.

A Radiologist's Guide to the Federal Election of 2012: What You Should Know Before You Go Into the Booth
Frank J. Lexa, MD, MBA
The 2012 federal election will have an unprecedented impact on our profession, and radiologists need to be informed and involved in this critical event.