The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided that because blood-flow determination with MR angiography (MRA) is a specific application of MRI, a separate National Coverage Determination (NCD) is not necessary and the noncoverage language will be removed.

McKesson has unveiled Connect-Rx software release 7.1, which updates functions for McKesson's AcuDose-Rx medication dispensing cabinets and Anesthesia-Rx medication carts.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $83.9 million in grants to help Health Center Controlled Networks adopt EHRs and other health IT systems.

3M Health Information Systems has released a breach notification tool available with new versions of 3M ChartRelease software and 3M DisclosureTrac software.

MINNEAPOLISImaging informatics can help in solving many of these persistent problems that plague radiology departments, including radiation dose concerns and mobile patients. During a Thursday afternoon scientific session at the annual meeting of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM), three sites shared projects that leveraged informatics to overcome common imaging problems.

MINNEAPOLISThe SIIM 2010 annual meeting opened with an overview of breakthroughs and advances in imaging informatics, including a sneak peek at highlights related to the eight learning tracks at the show: integrating IT and images, communication of patient data, 3D and processing of CT and MR, digital radiography, cloud-based storage, security and privacy issues, political aspects of healthcare reform and the role of informatics.

As healthcare providers await the final requirements for Meaningful Use, with 2011 deadlines looming, HIMSS Analytics is working to find out what hospitals are doing now. The HIMSS offshoot has added new data flow questions to its annual survey on meaningful use.

Remote monitoring programs for patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF) can reduce HF hospital admissions, cardiovascular events and length of stay, according to a study presented at the European Society of Cardiologys Heart Failure Congress 2010 in Berlin May 29-June 1.