Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

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Report: Johnson & Johnson once again considering deal to acquire Shockwave Medical

Healthcare giants Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic were all reportedly interested in acquiring Shockwave Medical in 2023. Now, new rumors suggest a deal could be finalized within weeks. 

doctor comparing the costs of different medical treatments

TAVR is often more cost-effective than SAVR—but not always

Average lengths of stay and common complications are just some of the factors care teams should consider when evaluating the costs of aortic valve replacement. 

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Novo Nordisk to acquire biotech company working on new heart failure drug for $1.1B

Cardior Pharmaceuticals in Germany has been developing a new compound it says can “halt and partially reverse cellular pathology” in heart failure patients. 

The most popular selfie spot at ACC 2023. At one point the first day of the conference, there were about 1,0000 attendees waiting in a line about two football fields long to get a photo in front of the logo. A testament to the first post-COVID pandemic ACC and large numbers of returning clinicians to the in person event. ACC.23 had more attendees and vendor booths than in 0re-pandemic 2019. #ACC23 #ACC

ACC.24 to make the business side of cardiology a priority

While the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting has historically had a more clinical focus, presentations at this year's conference in Atlanta will spend much more time looking at the business side of things. 

Medicare money payment

Medicare will now cover weight loss drug semaglutide if taken for heart benefits

The news represents a meaningful policy shift for CMS. In the past, Medicare prescription drug plans have not covered medications designed to help patients lose weight.

Going green in the cath lab makes economic sense

New research explored the potential savings of turning off angiography systems at night and on weekends.

Cardiologist heart

A possible remedy for cardiology’s staffing shortages: heart failure internists

Internal medicine physicians spend a lot of time working with heart failure patients. A new commentary in JACC: Heart Failure explored the potential impact of providing IM trainees with special training so that they can deliver additional value.

FDA approves new hypertension drug months after Idorsia reacquired rights for $343M

Aprocitentan, sold under the brand name Tryvio, is approved for patients with high blood pressure who are already taking other antihypertensive drugs. 

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.