Withings has introduced a new health tech device at CES this year, the BeamO, priced at $249.95. BeamO is a multiscope that combines several health monitoring functions into one device. It measures temperature, takes electrocardiograms (EKGs), reads blood oxygen levels, and functions as a stethoscope to monitor heart and lung health. Key features of the BeamO include: The BeamO represents Withings’ continued investment in developing an at-home health platform, aiming to simplify and enhance health monitoring for families. However, the actual availability of the device is subject to FDA approval, and Withings has a history of delays in getting clearance…
Author: Abhay Panchal
In November, Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts announced that beginning Jan. 1, it would no longer cover the use of monitored anesthesia for certain gastrointestinal patients undergoing endoscopic, bronchoscopic or interventional pain procedures. Now that the policy has officially gone into effect, monitored anesthesia is no longer considered “medically necessary” for these procedures by the insurer, unless a patient receives documentation by the operating physician or anesthesiologist/certified registered nurse anesthetist that specific risk factors or significant medical conditions are present. Patients with few or no comorbidities will no longer receive coverage. BCBS cited a study from the American Society for…
The current approach to esophageal function testing is deemed insufficient for accurately characterizing esophageal motility disorders, particularly in patients with esophageal dysphagia. This inadequacy is highlighted in a report by Ravinder K. Mittal, MD, and Ali Zifan, PhD, from the University of California San Diego, published in Gastro Hep Advances. Key points from the report include:
Gastroenterologists working at physician-owned entities outearn their hospital and management service counterparts, according to Healthcare Appraisers’ 2023 GI “Industry Outlook” report, published in September. Here are four more notes:
A phase 1 trial for a vaccine targeting micrometastatic disease markers in patients treated for pancreatic or colorectal cancer has shown promising results in preventing recurrence. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved a vaccine that targets two different KRAS mutations (G12D and G12R) and is designed as an off-the-shelf vaccine. This vaccine binds to albumin in the body and targets the lymph nodes to increase the T-cell response, potentially fighting micrometastatic diseases. Key findings from the trial include: Dr. Shubham Pant, a professor in the department of gastrointestinal medical oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,…
The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been steadily increasing among men younger than 50 years, while remaining stable among women of the same age group, according to a study conducted in Austria. This finding suggests that patient sex should be considered when determining the age for starting CRC screening. Key findings from the study include: The researchers found that 10.5% of individuals younger than 50 years and 21.9% aged 50 years and older had adenomas. Additionally, 3.9% of younger individuals and 6.9% of older individuals had at least one advanced adenoma. The prevalence of adenomas was higher among men…
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking test that can detect 18 early-stage cancers, potentially representing a significant advancement in medical diagnostics. This test, designed by US researchers from the biotech firm Novelna, analyzes proteins in the blood to identify early-stage cancers across all main organs in the human body. Traditional methods for early cancer detection have faced challenges such as invasiveness, cost, and low accuracy for early-stage diseases. The Novelna test addresses these issues by using specific blood proteins for early detection and monitoring. Previous tests lacked sensitivity (accuracy in identifying those with cancer) and specificity (accuracy in excluding those without…
Cutting out coinsurance for patients undergoing colonoscopy after a positive stool test could improve patient life-years, according to new research. Although the full effect of Medicare’s January 2023 policy waiving cost sharing for colonoscopy after a positive stool-based colorectal cancer screening test remains uncertain, researchers estimated that if the waived cost of a follow-up colonoscopy increased adherence by 15%, then the resulting colonoscopies would extend the lives of the average-risk population by up to 20%. Furthermore, any uptick in CRC screening is expected to yield savings in healthcare spending, according to the researchers. “Policies and efforts to increase both total…
Robotic surgery is associated with improved outcomes over laparoscopic procedures for colon cancer patients undergoing colectomies, according to a new study by Dallas-based University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in World Journal of Surgical Oncology, showed that patients undergoing robotic surgery experience shorter hospital stays and lower rates of complication on average. Additionally, they have more lymph nodes harvested and a more accurate determination of what stage the cancer is in, according to a Jan. 4 press release from UT Southwestern. Patients also had fewer conversions to open surgery necessitated by anatomical challenges and fewer instances of…
Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind the anti-obesity drug Zepbound, has launched LillyDirect, a direct-to-patient portal. This innovative platform allows certain patients to obtain Zepbound for as low as $25 a month, marking a significant shift in how these medications are made available to patients. This development is particularly important for the 42 million Americans with obesity, for whom weight loss medications like Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound can be highly beneficial. The availability of these medications has been challenging due to drug shortages and high costs, with prices reaching up to $1,300 monthly without insurance coverage. However, 2024 may see…