The American Medical Association (AMA) has highlighted a significant disconnect in the adoption of digital health among commercial insurers, Medicaid, and Medicare. This was based on research conducted by Manatt Health for the AMA. While Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans cover all 21 digital medicine services assessed, private health plans in the Medicare Advantage program do not offer the same coverage in the commercial market. Medicaid’s coverage is more limited, but it has been expanding over time. Key Points:
Author: Abhay Panchal
TOPLINE:Adults with suspected celiac disease and no immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency most likely can avoid a diagnostic bowel biopsy if they have high serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA). METHODOLOGY:Researchers evaluated the reliability of serum tests for diagnosing celiac disease, as defined by duodenal villous atrophy (Marsh type 3 or Corazza–Villanacci grade B). The main study cohort included 436 adults with suspected celiac disease who did not have IgA deficiency and who were not on a gluten-free diet (mean age, 40 years; 68% women). The patients were referred by 14 centers across four continents to undergo local endoscopic duodenal biopsy. Local…
Physician suicide is a pressing issue that demands immediate solutions, as highlighted by the recent report from The Physicians Foundation. The report, titled “2023 Survey of America’s Current and Future Physicians,” provides a concerning insight into the mental health of medical providers and students. Key Points:
Reed Jobs, the son of the late Steve Jobs, has launched a venture firm named Yosemite, dedicated to cancer-fighting biotech. The firm started with a significant $200 million in funding, drawing support from notable institutions like MIT, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and John Doerr. Reed’s passion for oncology was ignited during his teenage years when his father, Steve Jobs, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Yosemite stands out not only for its cancer focus but also for its unique structure. It operates a traditional venture fund but sets aside 2.5% for a donor-advised fund that functions as a nonprofit entity.…
A groundbreaking study has been conducted to assess the potential of a rapid, low-cost blood test that can detect multiple types of cancer. The test, known as the Dxcover® Cancer Liquid Biopsy, utilizes Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with machine-learning algorithms. The study involved 2092 patients and examined eight different cancers. The results showed promising area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) values for various cancer types, such as brain (0.90), breast (0.76), colorectal (0.91), and others. The test can detect early-stage disease and can be adjusted to maximize either sensitivity or specificity based on different healthcare system…
The Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA) has expressed its support for the “Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act” (S. 2764, H.R. 5391). This act was introduced by U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), U.S. Representative Mike Burgess (R-TX), and U.S. Representative Greg Murphy (R-NC). Key Points:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently disclosed data on its 2021 and 2022 settlements concerning voluntary self-disclosures related to past or potential violations of the physician self-referral law, commonly known as the “Stark Law.” In 2022, CMS settled an unprecedented 104 self-disclosures, with the total settlement amounts exceeding $9,000,000. This figure is almost four times the number and amounts settled in 2021 and surpasses the previous record from 2016. Key Points:
Vivante Health, a digital gastrointestinal health company, has successfully closed a $31 million Series B funding round. The round was led by new investor Mercato Partners, and the total funds raised by Vivante Health now amount to $47 million. Other participants in the funding round included Health Catalyst Capital, Intermountain Ventures, SemperVirens, 7wireVentures, Human Capital, and Distributed Ventures. Key Highlights:
Liver disease has been identified as the primary cause of death in patients diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease, especially in the years following their diagnosis. The risk of mortality is almost three times higher for those with decompensated cirrhosis. Here are the main points from the article: Mortality Risk: Patients with alcohol-related liver disease face a 1-year mortality risk of 25%, even though their median age is relatively young at 60 years. 10-Year Risk Analysis: The 10-year risk for death from liver disease stands at 31.4%, compared to 11% from cancer. For those with decompensated cirrhosis, the 10-year mortality risk…
Shorter time between bowel prep completion and colonoscopy initiation is associated with improved bowel prep adequacy, but not necessarily adenoma detection rates, according to results of a meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, shorter intervals between bowel prep and colonoscopy were associated with adequate preparation 94% of the time (95% CI, 91%-97%), which was significantly greater than the adequacy rate seen with longer intervals (84%; 95% CI, 79%-89%) (Turk J Gastroenterol 2023; 34[1]: 26-34). The meta-analysis included data from 20 studies that reported results with regard to the time interval between bowel prep completion and colonoscopy. Ten of the studies were…