Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies. 

The use of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still safe and effective when patients present with calcified nodules (CNs), according to new long-term data published in EuroIntervention.[1] Researchers compared outcomes from patients with and without CNs, highlighting key similarities in stent expansion and luminal gain.

Experts in interventional cardiology, medical billing unite to discuss Shockwave Medical’s IVL technology

Intravascular lithotripsy has quickly emerged as one of healthcare’s most in-demand technologies. Now Shockwave Medical, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, is co-hosting a webinar designed to teach coding and billing specialists how to code appropriately for peripheral and coronary IVL procedures. 

money maze payment reimbursement

Biden chooses semaglutide for next round of Medicare price negotiations—Trump gets final say

The final list also included diabetes drugs sold by Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck. The first round of drug price negotiations reduced the Medicare prices for 10 popular drugs by up to 79%. 

Stephen Browning, FDA assistant director for hemodynamic and heart failure diagnostics, explains the FDA perspectives and regulatory pathways for AI-enabled cardiovascular devices at TCT 2024.

FDA regulator examines AI's growing influence in cardiology

Stephen Browning, the FDA's assistant director of hemodynamics and heart failure diagnostics, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the agency's perspective on AI-enabled cardiovascular devices and many other topics.

FDA announces another recall for surgical devices over safety concerns—7 new injuries reported

Maquet Cardiovascular, a subsidiary of Getinge, is recalling two of its endoscopic vessel harvesting devices due to issues with different pieces bending, peeling or detaching during use. Some of the company's other EVH devices were recently involved in a separate recall for similar reasons. 

Recor Medical's Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System

Momentum continues for renal denervation as CMS considers national Medicare coverage

CMS is accepting public comments on the topic for a period of 30 days. Recor Medical and Medtronic have both shared statements in support of the potential policy shift.

the words "FDA recall" on a board

FDA announces recall after Philips heart monitor software failed to send alerts—multiple deaths reported

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries. 

HRS President Ken Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS, explains the need for the Heart Rhythm Advocates lobby group in Washington, D.C. to push for policies in Congress over reimbursements.

Why electrophysiologists needed a champion in Washington

Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, detailed a new advocacy group focused on improving EP reimbursements, patient care and access. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu," he said.

Dual Energy ThermoCool SmartTouch SF Catheter

Johnson & Johnson gains CE mark approval for catheter capable of radiofrequency, PFA ablation

A new catheter from Johnson & Johnson MedTech is now approved to treat cardiac arrhythmias in Europe. Could FDA approval be on the horizon? 

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.