| This Week’s News | CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists. CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists. | | |
| CMS has published its final rule for the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and it includes significant payment cuts. Cardiology groups have been working hard to stop these changes from going into effect since they were first proposed in July. CMS has published its final rule for the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and it includes significant payment cuts. Cardiology groups have been working hard to stop these changes from going into effect since they were first proposed in July. | | |
| The 63-year-old doctor was arrested on charges of sexual battery, battery and simple assault on Oct. 30. The 63-year-old doctor was arrested on charges of sexual battery, battery and simple assault on Oct. 30. | | |
| Robotic-assisted aortic valve surgery may be a safe, effective alternative to TAVR when treating low- and intermediate-risk patients. A new analysis in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery explored this topic at length. Robotic-assisted aortic valve surgery may be a safe, effective alternative to TAVR when treating low- and intermediate-risk patients. A new analysis in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery explored this topic at length. | | |
| Philippe Genereux, MD, principal investigator of the EARLY TAVR trial, discussed how a proactive treatment strategy for patients with asymptomatic AS can lead to better outcomes and improvements in quality of life. Philippe Genereux, MD, principal investigator of the EARLY TAVR trial, discussed how a proactive treatment strategy for patients with asymptomatic AS can lead to better outcomes and improvements in quality of life. | | |
| The New Jersey doctor already admitted to collecting more than $1.9 million in false claims from 2017 to 2022. He is also under investigation for an unrelated charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact due to an alleged incident with a patient. The New Jersey doctor already admitted to collecting more than $1.9 million in false claims from 2017 to 2022. He is also under investigation for an unrelated charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact due to an alleged incident with a patient. | | |
| The three-day conference begins Saturday, Nov. 16, in Chicago. Topics will include AI, heart failure, patient management and much more. The three-day conference begins Saturday, Nov. 16, in Chicago. Topics will include AI, heart failure, patient management and much more. | | |
| The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. | | |
| Sanjit S. Jolly, MD, MSc, reviewed his team's late-breaking data on treating heart attack patients with colchicine. "I think inflammation is an important area, but I don't think colchicine is the magic bullet," he said. Sanjit S. Jolly, MD, MSc, reviewed his team's late-breaking data on treating heart attack patients with colchicine. "I think inflammation is an important area, but I don't think colchicine is the magic bullet," he said. | | |
| Johnson & Johnson is now the third company with an FDA-approved PFA system in its portfolio, joining Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Varipulse previously gained CE mark approval in February. Johnson & Johnson is now the third company with an FDA-approved PFA system in its portfolio, joining Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Varipulse previously gained CE mark approval in February. | | |
| Both FDA-approved systems previously received inpatient payments in August. Both FDA-approved systems previously received inpatient payments in August. | | |
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