A study by Avalere, commissioned by the American Independent Medical Practice Association, revealed that Medicare expenditures for patients in private equity-affiliated physician practices were 9.8% lower in 2022 compared to hospital-affiliated practices. Private equity-backed practices also showed 13.5% fewer inpatient days and 7.9% fewer emergency department visits. The report indicates that private equity involvement in healthcare can reduce costs and improve care efficiency compared to hospital and corporate affiliations, highlighting potential policy implications for supporting such models.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Cylinder’s app-based digestive health management platform was found to significantly reduce gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and improve health outcomes across diverse racial and socioeconomic groups, as reported in a study published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology. Key findings include 85% of users experiencing symptom improvement and 83% feeling better control over their health. The platform, which offers personalized care, addresses disparities in GI healthcare, particularly for underserved populations, and enhances overall well-being and workplace productivity.
Smart drug delivery technologies for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) focus on site-specific therapeutic delivery, enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects. Recent advancements, including ingestible smart capsules, offer precise targeting within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Despite previous commercialization challenges, progress in technology, miniaturization, and component design has reignited interest. Smart capsules, equipped with drug reservoirs, sensors, and localization mechanisms, promise improved treatment for IBD by accurately releasing drugs at disease sites, overcoming limitations of traditional drug delivery methods.
In the podcast episode of Small Talk Big Topics, Drs. Laurel Fisher and Asma Khapra discuss the evolving role of women in gastroenterology. Both share their career journeys and emphasize the importance of networking, self-care, and reducing burnout. They highlight the growing representation of women in GI leadership and the support provided by workshops and organizations like AGA. While progress has been made, they stress the need for further efforts to increase female participation and leadership in the field.
The rapid adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists for diabetes and weight loss has raised concerns in the endoscopy suite due to potential risks like delayed gastric emptying and aspiration during procedures requiring sedation. Anesthesiologists have called for holding GLP-1s a week prior to elective procedures, causing tensions with gastroenterologists who argue the evidence is insufficient. Both sides agree more research is needed to guide best practices, and new guidelines are being developed to address these concerns while minimizing unnecessary cancellations.
In this crossover podcast, Jeffrey Roberts, Kate Scarlata, Dr. William Chey, and Amanda Lynett discuss advancements in the management of IBS, including the role of nutrition, FODMAPs, and integrative care. Dr. Chey emphasizes evolving IBS treatments, including prebiotics, probiotics, and mast cell stabilizers. Amanda Lynett shares insights on planning conferences like FOOD the Main Course and her passion for GI nutrition. They highlight the importance of pelvic floor therapy and a multidisciplinary approach to IBS care, offering hope to patients and guidance for healthcare providers.
The gastroenterology industry faces challenges like declining reimbursement rates and staffing shortages, even as demand for GI procedures increases due to a lowering of the recommended age for colonoscopies and rising obesity rates. Cuts proposed for 2025 by CMS could exacerbate these issues, particularly for private practice, which makes up a large part of the specialty. This may lead to more consolidation in the industry as independent practices struggle to compete with larger hospitals offering higher salaries to new graduates.
A study conducted by Dr. Rafael Bandeira Lages and colleagues in Brazil explored a less invasive alternative to traditional impedance-pH monitoring for diagnosing GERD. By measuring esophageal mucosal impedance during endoscopy, the research found high diagnostic accuracy, particularly at 2 cm above the esophagogastric junction. This method, which is more comfortable for patients, holds promise as a diagnostic tool but requires further validation and refinement before it can be used widely in clinical practice.
A recent study suggests that combining fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) with colonoscopy could improve colorectal cancer surveillance for individuals with a family history of the disease. The optimal strategy involves 10-yearly colonoscopy with 2-yearly FIT screenings, providing a balance of cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes. The study highlights the growing interest in less-invasive screening options and emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality assurance in both colonoscopy and FIT procedures. While FIT alone has limitations, the combined approach could potentially offer better cancer prevention and detection rates.
Exact Sciences presented data from a study on its blood-based colorectal cancer test at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. The test showed 88.3% sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer and 31.2% for advanced precancerous lesions, with a specificity of 90.1%. This development brings the test closer to providing a non-invasive screening option. Analysts reacted positively but expressed concern over potential performance degradation, with final results from the BLUE-C study expected by the first half of 2025.