Considering disease stage and indications for treatment allows for more personalized recommendations for use of beta-blockers for bleeding prevention in patients with cirrhosis, according to a recent literature review. The therapeutic window for use of nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) traditionally was though to open when patients had high-risk varices, regardless of whether they had diuretic-responsive ascites, (Child-Pugh class B/C) and close when decompensated cirrhosis progressed to refractory ascites, the authors noted (J Hepatol 2023;78[4]:866-872).
Author: Abhay Panchal
In June, UnitedHealthcare introduced a new advanced notification system for patients undergoing specific procedures like esophagogastroduodenoscopies, capsule endoscopies, diagnostic colonoscopies, and surveillance colonoscopies. Although gastroenterologists were pleased that the initially proposed prior authorization rules were not implemented, many still expressed reservations and skepticism about the advanced notification and gold carding process. Dr. Benjamin Levy, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, stated that while the advanced notification system is preferable to prior authorization, there are still concerns about potential delays in diagnosing cancer in patients with alarming symptoms and general medical management. The medical community was relieved when the…
Recent research published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shed light on the effectiveness of cancer screenings. Dr. A. M. McCarthy, University of Oslo, Norway; The study, led by Michael Brethauer, found that most routine cancer screenings prolong patient survival. A notable exception was sigmoidoscopy, for colorectal cancer screening, which showed a potential benefit of 110 days overall. While many doctors support cancer screening as a way to save lives, it is important to weigh the benefits against the potential harms. For example, colon cancer screening can sometimes cause complications such as bleeding or perforation. Studies show that while certain tests…
Gastroenterology has made a name for itself in the ASC industry. These statistics come from VMG Health’s “Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study” for 2022. Here are five statistics on gastroenterology in ASCs to know:
The annual average billing amount to commercial payers from medical specialists is around $3.8 million, according to AMN Healthcare’s “2023 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives” report released July 24. However, gastroenterologists far surpassed that number in 2023, with average billing to commercial payers reaching $5.3 million. Gastroenterologists had the fifth-highest billing average to payers in 2023, following general surgeons, who billed an average of $11.7 million; orthopedic surgeons; critical care physicians; and urologists.
The American Hospital Association, which represents 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations, has submitted a letter to CMS commenting on its proposed hospital outpatient prospective payment system and ambulatory surgical center payment system rules for calendar year 2024. For calendar year 2024, CMS has proposed an update of 3 percent less a productivity adjustment of 0.2 percentage points for ASCs. The AHA has “strong concerns about this inadequate update, especially when taken together with the underwhelming market basket increases from calendar year 2022 and 2023,” according to the Sept. 8 letter. The AHA believes proposed changes do…
A recent cross-sectional study has revealed a connection between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The findings indicate that the risk of metabolic syndrome and the severity of NAFLD rise with an increase in BMI. Although non-obese NAFLD patients have similar clinical outcomes as their obese counterparts, there’s limited evidence on the cardiometabolic status and disease severity in lean NAFLD. Obesity is often associated with potential risk factors for NAFLD, even in patients with a normal weight. It’s also linked to metabolic syndrome risk factors like high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and high blood…
Iterative Health and Gastro Health have formed a partnership to integrate Iterative Health’s AI-driven gastroenterology technology into Gastro Health’s endoscopy centers nationwide. The collaboration aims to standardize GI care across various demographics and conditions. Jonathan Ng, the founder of Iterative Health, was inspired to bridge the gap in medical training across countries after witnessing disparities in Cambodia. The company’s AI technology, designed to standardize the interpretation of visual health data, recently received FDA clearance for its ability to detect suspicious polyps during colonoscopies. Their Skout system can identify over two dozen clinical features in real-time, including inflammation and ulcers. Partnering…
Novel biomarker tests have met or exceeded the performance of common lab tests for diagnosing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or MASH), laying the groundwork for noninvasive alternatives to liver biopsy, new research suggests. The blood-based tests could expand diagnostic options at healthcare facilities and facilitate enrollment in NASH clinical trials, which now require a biopsy for inclusion. “The current study meets a key milestone for qualification of the biomarker panels studied for identification of at-risk NASH,” Arun Sanyal, MD, of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, told…
In a video exclusive by Healio, Dr. Edward V. Loftus Jr. highlighted the advantages of using a multidisciplinary approach in treating intricate gastrointestinal (GI) cases, especially those involving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Often, gastroenterologists handle patients with challenging GI conditions that may be beyond their specific expertise. A multidisciplinary approach ensures that they aren’t isolated in this endeavor. In a discussion with Healio Gastroenterology, experts from various GI care areas deliberated on how to make multidisciplinary care more accessible to all. Dr. Loftus, the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Professor of Gastroenterology at the Mayo…