The American Heart Association (AHA) and 10 other patient groups released a position statement on March 6 outlining priorities that Congress should consider when making changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Joseph Caccione, a cardiologist and Cleveland Clinic executive, has been named president of Ascension Medical Group.

A cardiologist based in New York and five other people were indicted on March 1 for their part in an alleged 12-year scheme to defraud Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance companies out of more than $50 million.

Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with an exacerbation of heart failure or acute MI who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) had similar 30-day mortality rates compared with those who were not admitted to the ICU, according to a retrospective cohort study.

An analysis of a randomized trial found that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was cost effective compared with optimal medical therapy in patients with mild heart failure.

Roy G. Heilbron, a cardiologist in New Mexico, pleaded guilty to a charge of healthcare fraud on Feb. 17 and admitted he overcharged private insurers and Medicare.

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, Medtronic’s revenue increased 5 percent of $7.283 billion, GAAP net income decreased 25 percent to $821 million and diluted earnings declined 23 percent to $1.12 per share compared with the same time period a year ago.

Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure who were implanted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) had a significantly increase in lifetime costs compared with those treated with medical management, according to a cost-effectiveness model.