Week in Review: CMS proposals | Uterine fibroid treatment options | Theranostics

At long last, in a development that CT colonography (CTC) advocates have been awaiting for over two decades, Medicare reimbursement for CTC for colorectal cancer screening may soon be at hand.

This week, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in its proposed 2025 rules for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System that it plans to replace barium enema tests with CTC on its list of covered exams. CMS highlighted CTC’s benefits as a noninvasive first step in colorectal cancer screening.

But that wasn’t the only big news from CMS this week that could spark greater utilization. CMS has also indicated it will provide separate reimbursement for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Not surprisingly, our coverage of these announcements generated our two most highly viewed articles this week.

In other news attracting attention, a patient survey conducted by the Society of Interventional Radiology produced some alarming results; very few women diagnosed with uterine fibroids are presented with a less invasive treatment option than hysterectomy. In response, the organization is calling attention to the benefits of uterine fibroid embolization.

We’ve also published the next two editions of our popular "Rise of theranostics" series. Part 4 offers a preview of women’s theranostics, while part 5 features the perspective of center administrators.

See below for the full list of our top stories of the week:

1. New CMS plan adds Medicare coverage of PET imaging agents
2. CMS proposes coverage of CT colonography screening
3. Many women unaware of treatment options for uterine fibroids
4. The rise of theranostics: Part 4 – Women's theranostics
5. Radiology suffers in missile attack on Kyiv pediatric hospital
6. AI increases breast MRI’s cancer detection 4-fold
7. Radiology departments can adopt responsible frameworks to deploy AI
8. Black women less likely to undergo preoperative breast MRI
9. CEM more efficient, comparably accurate to conventional mammography
10. ACR responds to CMS proposed 2025 MPFS rule
11. ASTRO chair responds to proposed cuts in 2024 MPFS
12. The rise of theranostics: Part 5 – Advice from center administrators
13. Risk factors for blood disorders identified in PRRT patients
14. Cryoablation safe and effective for treating breast cancer