Regulatory: Page 295

FDA clears GE combo PET/CT scanner

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

GE Medical Systems of Waukesha, WI, has received FDA clearance for a hybrid scanner that combines PET and CT technology in the same gantry.

April 15, 2001

Contrast manufacturers await Medicare payment boost

By Robert Bruce

The contrast media industry is poised to take advantage of new Medicare payment codes that go into effect in July. The resulting higher payments will partly offset a decline seen in some contrast media prices in recent years.

April 15, 2001

Where do PACS fit into FDA rules on device approvals?

(OTech) Until last year, the Food and Drug Administration regulated PACS devices as accessories to the imaging modalities with which they were used. In July 2000, the FDA changed course, however, issuing new guidelines for medical image management devices to recognize the significant expansion of their functionality.

April 11, 2001

HCFA expands covered uses for PET, but hedges on coincidence cameras

By Eric Barnes

The U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) on Tuesday expanded the list of circumstances under which Medicare will pay for PET scans. However, once again HCFA declined to expand coverage for the use of gamma cameras that use coincidence detection techniques for PET imaging.

April 11, 2001

NIH gets big boost in 2002 budget

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) was a big winner in the budget President Bush delivered to Congress on Monday. The proposed fiscal year 2002 budget earmarks nearly $23.1 billion for the NIH, an increase of $2.75 billion, or 13.5%, over fiscal 2001.

April 10, 2001

Misonix to deliver SonoReal

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Misonix has received Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for its SonoReal 3-D ultrasound probe, formerly known as Baby Face.

April 5, 2001