One GI, has named Christa Newton as its new CEO. The announcement was shared by Ms. Newton on LinkedIn. Prior to this role, she held the position of COO within the organization and has been a part of One GI since 2021. With over two decades of experience in multispecialty, multistate, private equity-backed practice management healthcare services, Ms. Newton brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role, as indicated on her LinkedIn profile.
Author: Abhay Panchal
People on Medicare may in 2026 see prices drop for 10 medicines, including pricey diabetes, cancer, blood clot, and arthritis treatments, if advocates for federal drug-price negotiations can implement their plans amid tough opposition. The Biden administration on Tuesday revealed the first 10 drugs selected for direct Medicare price negotiations in accordance with a process mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. It’s unclear at this time, though, how these negotiations will play out. The US Chamber of Commerce has sided with pharmaceutical companies in bids to block direct Medicare negotiation of drug prices. Many influential Republicans in Congress…
Medicine is a profession that prides itself on a high standard of both ethical and professional behavior. Expectations for proper conduct by physicians commonly are applied not only at work but also in the community and on social media, even if some doctors chafe at the latter standard. For this report, Medscape asked US physicians how often and where they see other doctors behaving poorly, when their own conduct got out of line, and how misbehavior should be addressed.
Hospitals and health systems are increasingly collaborating with major tech companies to drive their digital transformations. Here are nine notable partnerships formed in the recent past:
Here are three significant updates related to the Stark law that could impact Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs): Florida’s Supervision Requirements: A new law has been enacted in Florida that amends the state’s Stark law supervision stipulations. Previously, the law mandated direct supervision, meaning the supervising physician had to be physically present in the office when the referred services were being executed. This direct supervision mandate has now been removed. Instead, the service should be supervised in a manner that aligns with “all applicable Medicare payment and coverage rules for services.” Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023: This act has introduced updates…
A comprehensive nationwide survey involving close to 89,000 participants revealed that the prevalence of Rome IV irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the U.S. stands at 6.1%, a figure higher than the previously estimated range of 4.7% to 5.3%. This study, published in Gastroenterology, highlighted that earlier U.S. studies estimating IBS prevalence were based on smaller sample sizes of around 2,000 individuals. The survey, conducted in early 2020, aimed to determine the prevalence of IBS using Rome IV criteria, the severity of symptoms, and the healthcare-seeking behaviors of the affected individuals. The findings showed that women were more likely to have…
Novo Nordisk has granted $9.57 million to the University of California San Diego NAFLD Research Center for a clinical trial that aims to assess the effectiveness of semaglutide in treating patients with fibrosis resulting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is currently the second leading cause for liver transplantation in the U.S., impacting around 24% of adults. Although many potential treatments are being explored, none have received FDA approval yet. Recent advancements in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight loss, such as Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk), have shown promise in reversing fatty liver disease in patients…
Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of Copenhagen have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can potentially identify individuals at the highest risk for pancreatic cancer up to three years before an actual diagnosis. This tool utilizes patients’ medical records to determine the elevated risk for the disease and is based on data from 6 million patients in Denmark. The tool was further evaluated in collaboration with VA Boston Healthcare System, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A study published in Nature Medicine indicates that AI-based population screening could be instrumental in…
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has expanded its virtual-first health plan, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize health services for its members. Initially introduced earlier this year, this plan will be available in Connecticut and Virginia starting January 1. The Anthem Link Virtual First plans utilize the insurer’s Sydney app, offering members 24/7 access to benefits details, cost transparency information, and more. The app also features an AI-driven symptom checker that evaluates specific symptoms before a doctor’s consultation. These plans provide various cost-sharing options, including zero coinsurance for virtual care. They also enable members to access Anthem’s network…
Watchmaker Genomics, a provider of innovative products for molecular analysis, has entered into a multi-year, co-exclusive agreement with Exact Sciences Corporation, a leading cancer screening and diagnostic test provider. The collaboration aims to develop and commercialize the TET-assisted pyridine borane sequencing (TAPS) technology, a breakthrough in DNA methylation analysis. Watchmaker plans to enhance the TAPS chemistry, enabling advanced applications like cancer screening and minimal residual disease (MRD) testing. DNA methylation patterns, which can be indicators of both healthy and diseased tissue states, are seen as promising biomarkers for liquid biopsies. The TAPS technology can improve DNA methylation analysis accuracy. Additionally,…