Under the Federal Stark Law, a “group practice” is a legally defined structure allowing physicians to refer Medicare patients for designated health services (DHS) within their organization if specific criteria are met. To qualify, the group must operate as a single legal entity, consist of at least two physicians, and ensure that 75% of patient care services are furnished through the group. Billing and income must be centralized, and profit distribution or bonuses cannot directly relate to DHS referrals. Compliance strategies include forming a legal entity, centralizing finances, allocating DHS profits equitably, and implementing referral monitoring policies. Adhering to these…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Health systems continue to partner with Big Tech, focusing on AI-driven clinical documentation, virtual care, and EHR optimizations. Key collaborations reported in the past month include:
Barricade Therapeutics has received a $14M grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support Phase 1 clinical trials for its innovative therapeutic candidate, BT-1501, targeting APCmut advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). This funding builds on $5.9M previously raised and underscores the potential of BT-1501, which leverages the TASIN platform technology licensed from UT Southwestern Medical Center. BT-1501 has shown promise in preclinical studies, significantly reducing tumor growth with minimal toxicity, offering hope as a more effective, less invasive treatment for metastatic CRC. With an FDA IND application expected by mid-2025, Phase 1 trials aim to evaluate…
Interim results from the phase 3 ESSENCE trial reveal that semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is effective in treating metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. At 72 weeks, semaglutide achieved superior outcomes compared to placebo for two primary endpoints: resolving steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis and improving fibrosis without worsening steatohepatitis. Additionally, significant benefits in weight loss (10.5%), liver enzyme improvements, and cardiometabolic risk factors were observed, with a similar safety profile between treatment and placebo groups.The study highlights the potential of semaglutide to address both liver and cardiometabolic issues, offering hope for expanded therapeutic…
NTT Corporation and Olympus Corporation have successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking cloud endoscopy system using NTT’s IOWN APN technology, achieving real-time processing of 4K/60fps endoscopic videos over a 150km distance with minimal latency (1.1 milliseconds). This marks a significant step toward the adoption of cloud-based endoscopy systems, enabling enhanced performance and functionality for medical imaging.By combining Olympus’ advanced endoscope technology with NTT’s high-speed, low-latency network, the experiment validated the feasibility of remote video processing without delay, ensuring smooth operator experiences. This innovation could facilitate remote diagnostics, shared imaging between hospitals, and broader access to advanced medical care, addressing technical hurdles like…
The global gastroenterology market, valued at USD 35.12 billion in 2024, is projected to surpass USD 53.10 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.1%. This growth is driven by the rising prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders such as GERD, IBD, and colorectal cancer, alongside the growing demand for minimally invasive procedures like advanced endoscopy.Key trends include the integration of AI in diagnostics, such as AI-powered endoscopy tools, and the increasing adoption of biologics and biosimilars for conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. North America is expected to dominate the market due to high healthcare expenditure and disease prevalence.…
Medtronic has secured a three-year IDIQ contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to install nearly 100 additional GI Genius™ AI-powered endoscopy units across VA medical centers nationwide. This expansion builds on an existing partnership that includes over 360 units in more than 140 VA facilities, significantly enhancing colorectal cancer screening for veterans. The VA conducts approximately 250,000 colonoscopies annually, diagnosing around 4,000 new colorectal cancer cases.
Guardant Health has achieved a historic legal victory, securing $292.5 million, including $175.5 million in punitive damages, after a U.S. District Court jury found Natera guilty of false advertising and unfair competition. The case centered on claims that Natera misled oncologists about Guardant Reveal™, Guardant’s innovative MRD test for early-stage colorectal cancer, in favor of its competing product, Signatera™. The jury unanimously sided with Guardant and rejected all counterclaims by Natera.
Dr. Aja McCutchen, a gastroenterologist with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates in Georgia, shares her journey into private practice gastroenterology and offers advice for a successful career. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the balance between entrepreneurship and medical practice, highlighting the need for effective negotiation skills and strategic planning. Dr. McCutchen also serves as vice chair of the AGA Research Foundation.
Lowering the positivity threshold of a commercial fecal immunochemical test (FIT) can enhance its sensitivity to levels comparable to next-generation multitarget stool DNA tests (NG-MSDT) while maintaining comparable specificity. This makes FIT a cost-effective and accessible noninvasive screening option for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially for patients who cannot undergo colonoscopies or are at lower CRC risk.A study analyzing data from the BLITZ and BLUE-C cohorts found that adjusting FIT thresholds improved sensitivity for CRC detection without significantly compromising specificity, suggesting it as a viable alternative to NG-MSDT for early CRC diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.