CapsoVision has filed for FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for its CapsoCam UGI capsule endoscopy system — a swallowable camera designed to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma at earlier, treatable stages. Unlike traditional imaging or invasive endoscopy, the device offers a completely non-invasive, panoramic view of the duodenal papilla, where subtle structural changes may reveal pancreatic disease. If granted, the designation would fast-track collaboration with the FDA and accelerate clinical validation. With pancreatic cancer’s 5-year survival rate lingering near 10% and most diagnoses made too late for surgery, a screening capsule could mark a turning point in detection. CapsoVision’s platform already powers…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Gastroenterologists practicing in ASCs face significant financial pressure starting in 2026, due to a new Medicare payment model that cuts physician payments for procedures performed in both hospital outpatient and ASC settings, and boosts payments for the office setting.While converting to office-based endoscopy isn’t feasible for every practice, now is the time to understand what it would take and if it’s right for your situation. Neil Gupta, MD, MPH, FASGE, successfully transitioned to office-based endoscopy and offers key considerations to evaluate whether it could be a viable part of your long-term strategy under the new payment system.
Fresh from ACG 2025, Dr. David Johnson spotlights four studies poised to reshape GI practice — from colonoscopy quality to breakthroughs in liver and pelvic floor disorders. One standout analysis linked higher sessile serrated lesion detection rates (SSLDR) to up to 80% lower post-colonoscopy cancer risk, pushing benchmarks beyond the current 6% target. Yet, another nationwide registry revealed major noncompliance with bowel prep guidelines, with over half of patients never returning after inadequate preparation — a “9-1-1 call” for improving colonoscopy follow-up. Beyond colon cancer, translumbosacral neuromodulation therapy showed dramatic reductions in fecal incontinence episodes, hinting at nerve regeneration potential.…
Obesity now intersects with nearly every GI condition—from MAFLD-driven cirrhosis and increased cancer risk to tougher IBD surgeries and lower screening uptake. Dr. Kelly lays out a practical, stigma-free framework for making weight care core to GI practice: start with a thoughtful weight history (sleep, meds, disordered eating, OSA risk), use patient-first language, and assess adiposity beyond BMI (with lower cutoffs for Asian patients).
Exact Sciences just took a major step toward expanding its leadership in colorectal cancer screening. The company announced that the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) antitrust waiting period has expired for its exclusive U.S. licensing deal with Freenome, giving it the rights to Freenome’s blood-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests. The exclusivity, however, hinges on FDA first-line approval of Freenome’s test. This partnership strengthens Exact Sciences’ multi-modality approach — complementing Cologuard®’s stool-based test with a blood-based option aimed at improving patient uptake and screening accessibility. Following the deal’s completion, Exact updated its 2025 guidance to reflect a $75 million initial cash payment, reducing…
AI is quietly reshaping medicine — from clinic rooms to hospital boardrooms — but not all doctors are on board. In Business Insider’s deep dive, physicians across the US shared how they’re experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, from generating referral letters to testing AI-powered note-taking. Some, like Harvard’s Dr. Adam Rodman, even use ChatGPT in live patient conversations, while others—like Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez—see cardiology leading the AI charge. Yet trust remains split. Nearly half of clinicians now use AI, but skepticism runs deep amid concerns over accuracy, ethics, and “shiny object syndrome.”
Even among top-tier gastroenterologists, how to best manage Barrett esophagus remains unsettled. A new Mayo Clinic–led survey of BE experts revealed striking inconsistencies — nearly half (47%) never offer ablation for nondysplastic Barrett’s, while 44% question biopsy diagnoses made by community gastroenterologists. Despite updated guidelines, opinions diverged on everything from when to use radiofrequency ablation to how aggressively to surveil or treat reflux after surgery. While most agreed on ablation for low-grade dysplasia, many differed on diagnostic tools like WATS-3D and long-term proton pump inhibitor use. The findings highlight a widening gap between evidence-based recommendations and real-world practice — even…
October marked a breakthrough month for gastroenterology — one defined by fresh FDA approvals, promising IBD trial data, and pivotal updates from ACG 2025. Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) can now be prescribed earlier in the IBD treatment sequence when TNF blockers aren’t suitable, expanding therapeutic flexibility for patients. Meanwhile, mirikizumab (Omvoh) gained approval for a simplified single-dose monthly regimen in ulcerative colitis, with new four-year data from the LUCENT-3 study showing durable benefit even among patients who failed prior biologics. Beyond IBD, the American College of Physicians issued new guidance on colorectal cancer screening performance measures, and ACG 2025 sessions spotlighted persistent…
Clinicians are increasingly stepping beyond the bedside to shape healthcare at scale—and this in-depth guide shows exactly how. Drawing from interviews with leaders at Curology, K Health, Doximity, and Oshi Health, the piece maps out four proven paths for clinicians moving into non-direct care roles: evolving within startups, shifting into care-adjacent roles, advising digital health companies, or upskilling into business and product functions. The author underscores how clinical skills—decision-making under uncertainty, empathy, and systems thinking—translate powerfully into strategy, operations, and leadership. Real-world stories reveal how clinicians have navigated transitions, reframed their experience in business terms, and overcome industry biases. More…
A new study has intensified scrutiny of UnitedHealth Group’s vertical integration strategy, alleging that UnitedHealthcare pays its sister company, Optum, 17% more than non-Optum providers — and as much as 61% more in markets where UnitedHealthcare holds major market share. Researchers from Brown University and UC Berkeley say the findings suggest UnitedHealth may be circumventing federal “medical loss ratio” (MLR) rules, which require insurers to spend most premium dollars on patient care rather than profit. By paying its own providers through Optum, the study argues, UnitedHealth can effectively recycle premiums internally, reporting them as care expenses while boosting corporate revenue.…