Volume XVI | Issue 9 | September 2024 | |
HCI's Monthly Review of the Healthcare Industry | |
Robert J. Stilley
President, CEO
HeartCare Imaging, Inc.
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Dear Colleagues –
As I write this message, millions of Americans are experiencing the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. As a Floridian, I’m used to the annual game of ‘chicken’ we play with storms. From late June through early November, we constantly watch the west coast of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico to see what's heading our way.
The past few years have been very difficult for those who live and work in Florida's Big Bend. As a state, we’ve rallied time and again to rebuild. This year’s storm has been especially devastating for an area whose resolve must be running low. But with Helene, we’ve witnessed a storm that not only hit the traditional areas of concern but also regions that are not typically affected. And to make matters worse, those areas have been devastated and are completely isolated from help.
We know that with time, aid will arrive. The question we must ask ourselves is, what can we do? Here’s my answer: First, pray for all those who have been affected and for those actively helping with search and rescue. Next, pitch in any way you can. HCI believes in giving back to our communities, and we will be donating to Samaritan’s Purse. We’ve been pleased with how they’ve used our donations during past disasters, and I’m sure they’ll do well again. If you’d like to help through them, their website is www.samaritanspurse.org.
At a time when our nation seems divided, it’s time for Americans to come together to help our neighbors in need.
Best Regards,
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FDA approves GE HealthCare's flurpiridaz F-18 PET radiotracer for CAD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a long-awaited approval to flurpiridaz F-18, GE HealthCare's first-of-its-kind positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging radiotracer, for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD).
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Advances in Theranostics Take Center Stage at SNMMI 2024 Therapeutics Conference
More than 300 nuclear medicine clinicians, researchers, technologists, regulators and suppliers gathered in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 19-21, for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2024 Therapeutics Conference.
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Good documentation is the key to cardiac PET prior authorizations
As more nuclear cardiology programs add positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, documentation is key if you want to prevent issues with prior authorizations and billing submissions.
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Novel radiotracer could improve the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease
A new molecular imaging marker could help identify the progression of interstitial lung disease sooner than before.
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New PET technique slashes scan times, improves image quality in neuroblastoma cases
A new type of PET scan could improve the diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma in pediatric patients.
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AI detects hypertension in voice recordings
Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify signs of hypertension in audio recordings, sharing their findings in IEEE Access.
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Most recalled cardiovascular devices gained FDA approval with little to no clinical evidence
A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Over Half of Adults With Uncontrolled Hypertension Unaware of Their Condition
More than half of U.S. adults with uncontrolled hypertension are unaware they have hypertension in the first place, according to a recent study in JAMA Network Openopens in a new tab or window.
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New Studies Fuel Debate Over GLP-1 Drugs and Suicide Risk
No link found in nationwide data from Sweden and Denmark and in analysis of STEP trials.
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AI Excludes Heart Attack Better Than Specialist Criteria
A machine-learning–based artificial intelligence (AI) program developed by German researchers rapidly and easily rules out a heart attack in patients presenting with chest pain in the emergency department. In a retrospective study, the program named ARTEMIS performed significantly better than traditional diagnostic criteria, the authors reported in a paper published in The Lancet Digital Health.
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ASE establishes vocabulary for cardiac POCUS to promote consistency
As cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use continues to grow outside of traditional echo labs, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is working to ensure everyone speaks the same language when reporting on these exams.
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Metal exposure can increase cardiovascular disease risk
Metal exposure from environmental pollution is associated with increased calcium buildup in the coronary arteries at a level comparable to traditional risk factors, according to a new study. The findings support that metals in the body are associated with the progression of plaque buildup in the arteries and potentially provide a new strategy for managing and preventing atherosclerosis.
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New approach to defibrillation may improve cardiac arrest outcomes
A new observational study suggests the position in which responders initially place the two defibrillator pads on the body may make a significant difference in returning spontaneous blood circulation after shock from a defibrillator.
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Researchers develop nanoparticle technology for targeted diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis
A team developed a nanoparticle technology that offers an effective solution to diagnose and treat atherosclerosis, in a non-invasive manner. Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque in the arteries which causes their narrowing and is a primary cause of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and ischemic stroke (IS), major contributors to deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases globally. This theranostic approach represents a significant advancement in the field of cardiovascular medicine as it offers a promising alternative to current medical practices for the management of atherosclerosis.
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The heart of the question: Who can get Medicare-covered weight loss medicine?
With Medicare now covering semaglutide for people with obesity and cardiovascular disease who don't have diabetes, a study looks at who that might include, depending on what cutoffs prescription plans apply.
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Health dangers of flooding: Disease, injuries and mental health concerns
Even after a hurricane’s immediate flooding threat goes away, residents could face a host of potential health problems from the water — and what it leaves behind.
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Nearly 1 in 3 US adults may have an iron deficiency, study suggests
A large proportion of adults in the United States – nearly 1 in 3 – may have one of two forms of iron deficiency, even if they don’t have a health condition for which they would be screened for it, such as anemia, heart failure or chronic kidney disease, a new study suggests.
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Amazon to Stock Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan at Its Warehouses
E-commerce giant is one of the biggest U.S. employers to respond to government pressure to make overdose medicine more available in the workplace.
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First Novel Schizophrenia Treatment in Decades Gains FDA Approval
Cobenfy offers an alternative to drugs with troublesome side effects.
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Pfizer to Withdraw Sickle-Cell Drug Oxbryta From Worldwide Markets
Decision comes two years after acquiring the drug’s parent company, Global Blood Therapeutic, in a $5.4 billion deal.
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Brett Favre's Parkinson's: 'Hell, I Wrote the Book on Head Trauma'
Several news items this month put professional football and head trauma back in the spotlight
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The Battle Brewing Over Blood Tests for Cancer
Blood tests for cancer detection, known as liquid biopsies, can still be unreliable, but progress is being made. Competition between different diagnostics companies is also intensifying.
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COVID: What to know about the XEC Covid variant
The strain, known as XEC, is gaining a foothold in the United States, accounting for an estimated 5.7% of new cases in the past two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
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Nursing aides plagued by PTSD after ‘nightmare’ COVID conditions, with little help
COVID killed more than 3,600 U.S. health care workers in the first year of the pandemic. It left many more with physical and mental illnesses — and a gutting sense of abandonment.
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Air Travel Alters Insulin Pump Delivery on Takeoff, Landing
Airplane travel consistently causes insulin pumps to over-deliver a little over half a unit on takeoff and under-deliver a bit less on landing, new research found.
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Health Care Industry News | |
Steward Health Care auction: What assets sold, closed and are still up for grabs
The fate of Steward’s 31-hospital portfolio is up for grabs in one of the largest provider restructurings in recent history. Here’s which hospitals are selling at auction — and which are closing.
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HHS to invest nearly $75M in rural healthcare
The funds will go toward expanding substance use disorder treatment and maternal healthcare services, as well as helping rural hospitals keep their doors open.
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Nation's largest supplier of IV solutions temporarily closes amid Helene
Baxter International temporarily closed its North Cove facility in Marion, N.C., due to severe flooding from Hurricane Helene.
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Health system margins inch lower
Median health systems margins decreased to 1.9% in August, a fourth straight month of declines, according to Strata Decision Technology's Monthly Healthcare Industry Financial Benchmarks report released in September.
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Health benefit costs to rise 5.8% per employee in 2025: survey
About half of employers said they would make cost-cutting changes to their plans next year, like increasing deductibles or other cost-sharing provisions, according to the report by consultancy Mercer.
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Where healthcare AI startups are raising venture capital funding
AI startups have raised about $60 billion over the past decade. But just over 5% of companies selling to health systems have matured beyond seed and early-stage funding rounds.
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Metabolic Disruptions in Parkinson’s Uncover New Treatment Potential
A new study has revealed critical metabolic impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD), focusing on purine metabolism and ATP recycling. Researchers found that patients with PD have significantly lower levels of uric acid and other purine metabolites in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid, affecting energy production in the brain.
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100x improvement in sight seen after gene therapy trial
The vision of people with a rare inherited condition that causes them to lose much of their sight early in childhood was 100 times better after they received gene therapy to address the genetic mutation causing it. Some patients even experienced a 10,000-fold improvement in their vision after receiving the highest dose of the therapy, according to researchers.
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Shared Reading Boosts Early Brain Development
A new study encourages parents to read aloud with newborns and young children to strengthen relationships and promote brain development. Shared reading supports language, literacy, and social-emotional growth, laying the foundation for school readiness.
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Alzheimer’s Drug Faces Scrutiny Over Safety, Efficacy Concerns
The FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug donanemab is under scrutiny due to concerns about its effectiveness and safety, according to an investigation. The study highlights multiple patient deaths during trials, design flaws, and the financial ties of panelists who recommended the drug’s approval.
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Antidepressant May Help Fight Glioblastoma Brain Tumors
Researchers have discovered that the antidepressant vortioxetine effectively combats glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor, in lab tests and in mice. This drug, already FDA-approved, crosses the blood-brain barrier and could potentially improve treatment for glioblastoma patients when combined with standard therapy.
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Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Pain More Than Placebo
Mindfulness meditation reduces pain by engaging distinct brain mechanisms, different from the placebo effect. Researchers found that mindfulness meditation was significantly more effective at reducing pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to placebo treatments.
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Maryland seemed poised this year to legalize medical aid in dying. What happened?
For advocates of medical aid in dying, it seemed like the political stars were finally aligning in Maryland.
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Senators introduce bill to set healthcare cybersecurity standards
The legislation would direct the HHS to develop minimum cybersecurity standards for providers, health plans, claims clearinghouses and business associates.
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House committee passes telehealth flexibility extension
The bill would extend pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities in Medicare for another two years, averting a looming year-end deadline.
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Senate votes unanimously to hold Steward Health Care CEO in criminal contempt
It’s the first time in more than 50 years the Senate has voted to send a contempt charge to the U.S. Department of Justice, which will determine whether to bring charges against Ralph de la Torre.
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PBM executives threatened with fines and jail time for alleged perjury in House hearing
Testimony from the heads of Express Scripts, Optum Rx and Caremark in July defending pharmacy benefit managers’ business practices could be coming back to bite them.
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HeartCare Imaging, Inc. | Phone: 561-746-6125 | Fax: 561-741-2036 | info@heartcareimaging.com | | | | |
