California’s legislature passed AB 3129, which, if signed by Governor Newsom, will require private equity groups and hedge funds to notify and, in some cases, obtain consent from the California Attorney General (AG) for investments in certain healthcare practices and facilities starting January 1, 2025. The bill applies to specific healthcare transactions, but amendments exempt certain entities, such as hospitals, dermatology practices, and county acquisitions, from these requirements.
Author: Abhay Panchal
The Body Roundness Index (B.R.I.) is emerging as an alternative to the Body Mass Index (B.M.I.), offering a more accurate assessment of health risks related to fat distribution. Unlike B.M.I., which considers height and weight, B.R.I. factors in height and waist size, providing better insights into central obesity and associated health risks like diabetes and heart disease. Studies show B.R.I. could be a better predictor of mortality, particularly linked to abdominal fat, and it addresses B.M.I.’s limitations in accounting for muscle mass and body shape.
The FDA recently approved a blood test for colorectal cancer that can detect the disease in its early, more treatable stages. Medicare will cover the test for seniors, but private insurance coverage could take years. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which determines coverage for preventive care, is underfunded and understaffed, causing delays in patient access to new technologies. Critics, including Rep. Anna Eshoo, are pushing for more funding to speed up the process and improve access to life-saving screenings.
Seed Health has partnered with Target for its first major retail expansion, bringing its DS-01® Daily Synbiotic, PDS-08® Pediatric Synbiotic, and the exclusive DS-01® 14 Day Gut Reset to Target stores and Target.com. The company aims to broaden access to its clinically validated probiotics, addressing gut health and occasional digestive disruptions. This collaboration highlights Seed’s commitment to expanding into new channels while maintaining sustainability efforts through zero-waste packaging and rigorous safety standards.
The article highlights the growing physician shortage in the U.S., with an expected deficit of up to 64,000 doctors by year-end, potentially rising to 86,000 by 2036. Key factors include retirement of older physicians, burnout from heavy workloads, and a lack of control over schedules. Solutions discussed involve improving compensation, work-life balance, involvement in decision-making, and better delegation of tasks. Addressing these issues is crucial for healthcare organizations to attract and retain physician talent.
Dr. Maria Abreu calls for a shift in the understanding and treatment of obesity, particularly in the Hispanic community, where obesity rates are high. She advocates for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which would expand Medicare coverage for effective weight-loss treatments, including medications and counseling. Dr. Abreu highlights the health disparities worsened by limited access to care and warns of the dangerous reliance on black-market medications. She urges public support for legislative action to address this growing health crisis.
In an interview with Grit Daily, Scott Hickle, founder of Throne, discussed the health-tech startup’s device designed to monitor gut health and hydration using a camera attached to a toilet. The device analyzes bowel movements and urine flow, providing continuous insights and potential early warnings for issues like colon cancer. Throne, still in the prototype stage, has received positive feedback and plans to launch with a direct-to-consumer model priced at $299, with a $6 monthly subscription for analytics.
Researchers have developed MILTON, an AI tool that analyzes routine patient test data to predict early signs of over 1,000 diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and kidney disease, long before symptoms appear. AstraZeneca, which developed the tool, aims to accelerate early interventions and treatments. While MILTON shows “exceptional” predictive performance for 121 diseases, experts caution about its ethical use and potential misuse by insurers or employers without consent. Further work is needed before MILTON can be used clinically.
THD America, a Natick, Massachusetts-based medical device company, and its parent company have agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. Between 2014 and 2017, the company allegedly caused colorectal and general surgeons to submit inflated reimbursement claims to Medicare and state Medicaid programs by encouraging the use of incorrect billing codes for its hemorrhoid removal system
Satisfai Health Inc., in collaboration with several partners including Alimentiv and Canadian universities, is receiving co-investment from DIGITAL to develop AI tools for Intestinal Ultrasound (IUS) in managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This AI tool, named Sonai, aims to improve the accuracy and accessibility of IUS, a non-invasive and cost-effective method used to assess IBD treatment responses. The initiative, supported by DIGITAL, is poised to enhance the application of AI in healthcare and revolutionize IBD management.