Volume XVI | Issue 11 | November 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
As the year winds down, it’s fitting that Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on all the blessings we’ve experienced. It’s a time to express gratitude for the many wonderful people and moments that have shaped our journey this year.
The HCI family is something truly special. From our dedicated team to our incredible client-partners across the United States and the talented vendors who provide exceptional support, we are fortunate to work alongside such amazing individuals. To all of you—thank you for everything you do to make our mission possible.
Most of you that know me might find it a little strange to read this as I’m definitely a type ‘A’ person. Experience (aka – getting old!) have taught me that you need to schedule time for the ‘good stuff’ just like you do for the important tasks at work. While the end of the year brings its share of deadlines and demands, let’s remember to prioritize the “good stuff
Spending time with family and friends, appreciating what we’ve achieved, and embracing the things that matter most are just as important as reaching our goals.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, joy, and meaningful moments.
Best Regards,
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In Major Win for Patients, CMS Adjusts Nuclear Medicine Reimbursement Policy, Expanding Access to Life-Saving Scans
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is celebrating a landmark victory for patients and care providers as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a significant adjustment to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). Under the new policy, CMS will unbundle and pay separately for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals with per-day costs exceeding $630, removing financial barriers that have long hindered patient access to essential nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures.
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Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine just received a grant worth more than $6 million to develop neuroimaging technology that could expand access to Alzheimer's diagnostics.
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Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over
The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) that was predicted to paralyze cardiac nuclear imaging may be over much sooner than expected. An update from the Nuclear Medicine Europe Emergency Response Team said its high-flux reactor (HFR) in the Netherlands has successfully restarted and the group anticipates that the normal global supply of Mo-99 will be achieved.
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Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?
The United States currently does not have any large-scale commercial production of the isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) used for nuclear imaging. It is critical to more 40,000 U.S. diagnostic nuclear imaging exams each day, representing about 80% of all diagnostic molecular imaging procedures.
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Multi-Tracer PET Approach Offers Personalized Management of Advanced Prostate Cancer
A new whole-body multi-tracer PET imaging approach can accurately identify evolving subtypes of cancer cells within distinct metastases in the same prostate cancer patient, according to new research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. These changing cancer cells, found in different metastases from the same patient—known as intrapatient intermetastatic heterogeneity (IIH)—were found in 83 percent of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. Understanding their characteristics can provide physicians with valuable insights for developing personalized treatment plans.
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New Theranostics Approach Cures Colorectal Cancer in Preclinical Study
A novel pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) approach for colorectal cancer achieved 100 percent complete response and cured 40 percent of tumor-bearing mice, according to new research published in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. By matching the tumor retention time of the targeting radiopharmaceutical with the half-life of the therapeutic radiopharmaceutical, the approach delivered a higher radiation dose while preventing damage to healthy organs and tissues. This study offers significant safety and logistical benefits for both patients and staff.
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What breast density status can tell us about cardiovascular risk
Breast density is most often discussed within the context of breast cancer risk, but new research suggests that it also could be used as a marker of cardiometabolic health.
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FDA clears AI screening tool for cardiac amyloidosis
Ultromics, a U.K.-based healthcare company focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve echocardiography evaluations, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its AI-powered screening software for cardiac amyloidosis.
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FDA approves acoramidis, BridgeBio’s new ATTR-CM drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved acoramidis to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
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9 key takeaways from AHA 2024 in Chicago
The American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 conference brought forward groundbreaking research and advancements in cardiovascular medicine.
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Breaking every hour of sedentary time with 10 mins of light exercise significantly reduced blood pressure
Time spent sedentary beyond six hours per day during growth from childhood through young adulthood may cause an excess increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure, a new study shows. Continuously engaging in light physical activity (LPA) significantly mitigated the rise in blood pressure.
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Ventricular remodeling on cardiac MRI predicts cardiovascular outcomes
The presence of left ventricular changes revealed on cardiac MRI can help predict 10-year negative cardiovascular outcomes, researchers have reported.
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While more is better, even moderate amounts of exercise may reduce risk for common heart condition
Adding an extra hour every week of physical activity may lower the chance of developing the most common type of irregular heartbeat (arrythmia) by 11%, a study shows.
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Sitting for More Than 10 Hours Daily Ups Heart Disease Risk
Sedentary time exceeding 10.6 h/d is linked to an increased risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular (CV) mortality, researchers found. The risk persists even in individuals who meet recommended physical activity levels.
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Optimizing Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy: Strategies For Preventing Maternal Mortality and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the United States
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of pregnancy-related maternal death in the United States, driven by rising rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, smoking, and advanced maternal age. Up to two-thirds of CVD-related maternal deaths are preventable with proper counseling and targeted interventions. This discussion focuses on strategies to reduce CVD risk during pregnancy.
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‘Truly alarming’: Life expectancy gap in the US now up to 20 years
The life expectancy gap in the U.S. increased by nearly 8 years from 2000 to 2021. Improvements in life expectancy were seen in Black individuals.
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Dangerous ultra-processed foods are linked to more than 30 health conditions. Here’s how to identify and avoid them
In an age where convenience often trumps nutritional value, a growing body of research is raising concerns about the health implications of eating ultra-processed foods. These foods undergo extensive industrial processing, resulting in products that are convenient, hyper-palatable, and potentially detrimental to long-term health.
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Severe Maternal Morbidity at First Birth Linked to Lower Subsequent Birth Rates
Women who experienced severe maternal morbidity with their first birth were less likely to have more children, a retrospective Swedish population-based cohort study suggested.
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Nationwide IV fluid shortage changing how hospitals manage patient hydration
Hospitals around the country are conserving critical intravenous fluid bags to cope with a shortage that may last months. Some hospital administrators say they are changing how they think about IV fluid hydration altogether.
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I Was in Great Health. So Why Were My Arteries Clogged?
Nearly 800,000 Americans die or become disabled a year because their diseases are misdiagnosed. I was almost one of them.
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Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants
Infants whose mothers regularly use language to describe what their child is thinking or feeling, have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin, finds a new study.
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Vaping immediately affects vascular health and oxygen levels, study shows, even without nicotine
Vaping has an immediate effect on how well the user’s blood vessels work, even if the e-cigarette doesn’t contain nicotine, according to new research.
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Alcohol use increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. A new study shows that it’s still high
A surge of stress-related drinking and alcohol-related deaths brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic in the US has not tapered off the way Dr. Brian Lee, a transplant hepatologist at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, had hoped.
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Concussions Slow Brain Activity in High School Football Players
A potentially important form of brain signaling appears to be affected whenever concussion strikes, according to new research involving high school football players.
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Scientists find why tamoxifen works better for some people
Tamoxifen is a common and important treatment to prevent breast cancer from recurring. A new study shows that variation in a patient's gut microbiome can impact how effective the treatment is.
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After a break from strength training, muscle memory may help you bounce back
If you've let your workout routine slide, the first time back in the gym can be a humbling experience. Your shoulders quake and quads tremble at what were once easy lifts.
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Health Care Industry News | |
DEA, HHS issue another extension for telehealth controlled substance prescribing
The third temporary extension, which prolongs the pandemic-era flexibilities through the end of 2025, is a relief for telehealth groups who had raised concerns about access to medications.
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Medicare Pays Wildly Different Prices for the Same Drug
Middlemen negotiate prescription costs at thousands of different price points, depending on your insurance plan.
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Health systems band together to test and publicly rank top AI models
Mass General Brigham, Emory and other providers will assess different AI models from companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon.
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No link between telehealth and low-value services in primary care: study
The findings could reassure policymakers concerned that virtual care could increase unnecessary or wasteful services.
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Baxter to restart second IV fluid production line at hurricane-damaged site
However, CEO Joe Almeida stressed that the earliest that new products could start to ship from the plant is late November.
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New Platform Overcomes Blood-Brain Barrier for Drug Delivery
Researchers have developed a breakthrough system to deliver large therapeutic molecules into the brain, overcoming the challenges of the blood-brain barrier. The innovative blood-brain barrier-crossing conjugate (BCC) platform utilizes a biological process called γ-secretase-mediated transcytosis to safely transport drugs like oligonucleotides and proteins into the central nervous system via intravenous injection.
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Alcohol Use Predicts Escalating Cannabis Vaping Among Youth
A recent study highlights alcohol as the strongest predictor of cannabis vaping initiation and experimentation among youth and young adults, regardless of demographic factors. Conducted over three years, the research found that alcohol consumption increased the likelihood of transitioning from non-use to cannabis vaping.
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Social networked friendship quality can be means of combating loneliness
Spending too much time social networking appears to be a key driver in loneliness, but a new article suggests motivated uses of social networking sites for connecting with people and feeling companionship can also play a role in alleviating it.
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Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk
Maternal immune activity during pregnancy influences memory circuitry in offspring, with sex-specific effects extending into midlife. Elevated immune markers like IL-6 and TNF-a in mothers were linked to adverse brain activity in memory regions, particularly in postmenopausal women, and lower cognitive performance in children.
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Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Tackle Gut Inflammation in IBD
Researchers have discovered that vagus nerve stimulation may reduce gut inflammation and improve outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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Gene Study Links Alcohol Addiction to Accelerated Alzheimer’s Progression
Researchers discovered alcohol use disorder (AUD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exhibit similar patterns of gene dysregulation, hinting that alcohol consumption may hasten Alzheimer’s progression. By analyzing gene expression across individual brain cells, the team found shared disruptions in inflammation, cell signaling, and blood vessel functions in both disorders.
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Trump nominates RFK Jr. to lead HHS
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated vaccine skeptic and lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the HHS in a controversial decision that’s expected to draw ire from some public health experts.
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Johns Hopkins surgeon Makary is Trump’s pick to lead FDA
A prolific medical researcher and author, Marty Makary criticized the FDA and CDC for their decision-making during the pandemic, although he describes himself as pro-vaccine.
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Trump nominates Dr. Oz to oversee Medicare, Medicaid as CMS head
On Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump said Oz, who is best known for his eponymous TV show, would take on the “illness industrial complex.”
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Many hospitals still aren’t complying with price transparency rule: OIG
In a sample of 100 hospitals, 34 didn’t meet requirements for publishing machine-readable files of their charges while 14 didn’t follow rules to post shoppable services.
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President-elect Trump's picks for CDC, FDA, surgeon general: 31 notes
In a series of announcements late Nov. 22, President-elect Donald Trump shared his nominations for three of the nation's top health positions: CDC director, FDA commissioner and surgeon general.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
