Despite the availability of effective, curative treatment for hepatitis C virus, substantial gaps remain in care. Novel approaches to closing these gaps, such as pharmacist-led HCV clinics and providing care within homeless shelters, may improve access to treatment and help further efforts to eliminate HCV, according to new research. OhioHealth, despite being a large healthcare organization, did not have ambulatory hepatology services before January 2023, when they established the referral-based, multidisciplinary Comprehensive Liver Program to care for patients with a wide array of liver diseases, said Kenneth Barga, PharmD, an ambulatory hepatology pharmacist with the program, in Columbus. The health…
Author: Abhay Panchal
The device, named the Vibrating Ingestible BioElectronic Stimulator (VIBE), is a pill-sized tool created by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and MIT. It is designed to travel safely through the gastrointestinal tract and expand in the stomach by vibrating upon contact with gastric fluid. This vibration stimulates the vagal nerve receptors, creating a sensation of fullness. The device was tested in swine, resulting in an average 31% reduction in food intake. It remained in the digestive system for about 30 minutes on average, indicating it should be swallowed before meals. The study, published in Science Advances, demonstrates the potential…
President Biden’s executive order on AI in healthcare has prompted a significant response from the healthcare sector. Several weeks after the order, 28 health systems and payer organizations have voluntarily committed to using AI ethically in healthcare. These commitments focus on expanding healthcare access, affordability, and improving outcomes while ensuring safety and transparency, especially regarding AI-generated content on websites. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with developing a safety program to address unsafe healthcare practices involving AI. This includes setting up a process for reporting and addressing improper AI practices and offering grants for AI research…
As in past years, 2023 featured an abundance of engaging literature. Expert panels, professional societies like American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and groundbreaking international researchers all weighed in on a range of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. Surveying this wide array of articles and picking the top contributions was a difficult task. Yet, in considering the totality of 2023, I felt that these 10 articles had the greatest game-changing implications. The articles are not listed in order of importance; all of them are equally invaluable resources for gastroenterologists looking to stay current with best practices in their…
Four anesthesia practices are suing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), among other parties, over CMS’s methodology for calculating reimbursements. The lawsuit, filed on December 18 by U.S. Anesthesia Partners of Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Physicians Anesthesia Service, alleges that CMS’s reimbursement calculations illegally include costs associated with nonphysician practitioners. Key Points from the Article: In summary, the lawsuit filed by four anesthesia practices challenges CMS’s reimbursement methodology, arguing that it unlawfully includes costs associated with nonphysician practitioners and unfairly penalizes certain medical specialties. The practices are seeking legal…
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has reiterated its concerns regarding UnitedHealthcare’s policies related to gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. On December 20, AGA issued a statement objecting to UnitedHealthcare’s advance notification program for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures and its proposed gold card prior authorization program planned for 2024. Key Points from the Article: In summary, the AGA is actively voicing its concerns and seeking clarification from UnitedHealthcare regarding its policies on gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. The association is advocating for the reversal of the proposed changes to ensure patient care is not adversely affected.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (BCBSMA) is facing significant backlash from gastrointestinal groups over its new policy, effective January 1, which will restrict coverage of monitored anesthesia care (MAC) for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures like colonoscopies. The policy change affects patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologist class I or II, typically without accompanying comorbidities. Key Points from the Article:
Biomerica, a leading provider of medical diagnostic products, has recently received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Hp Detect Stool Antigen ELISA test. This new test is designed to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which infects about 35% of the U.S. population. Key Points from the Article: In summary, the FDA clearance of Biomerica’s Hp Detect Stool Antigen ELISA test marks a significant advancement in the detection and management of H. pylori infections. This development is expected to have a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of a large number of people suffering from this infection…
The gut microbiome, comprising diverse microbes like bacteria, fungi, and archaea, plays a crucial role in producing volatile chemicals found in exhaled breath. These chemicals, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are linked to diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and cancer. Key Points from the Article: Breath as a Biomarker Source: Breath contains a rich matrix of compounds, including many VOCs, which originate from metabolic processes throughout the body. These VOCs are by-products of microbial metabolism and can serve as biomarkers for different diseases. Advantages of Breath Analysis: Breath testing offers several benefits…
Endoscopy plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions but carries with it a potential risk for infection transmission through reusable endoscopes. Concern for patient safety and the need for cost-effective healthcare practices have sparked a long-standing debate surrounding single-use versus reusable endoscopes. Ten years ago, the initial dynamic—partly driven by industry—was to push the market toward single-use endoscopes, noted Klaus Mergener, MD, PhD, MBA, MASGE, an affiliate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, in Seattle. But single-use endoscopes have significant downsides, he said, and may not be necessary for…