Between 25 percent and 42 percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a low-value service in 2009, with cardiovascular testing and procedures accounting for much of the spending. The results were published online May 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced that data presented during Heart Rhythm 2014, the Heart Rhythm Society’s Annual Scientific Sessions, found that the use of quadripolar leads reduced the number of hospitalizations by 53 percent when compared to the non-quadripolar group. This hospitalization rate reduction translated into a statistically significant 62 percent reduction in overall costs for both health care systems and patients.

Reducing or eliminating copays for medications could go a long way toward closing the gap in cardiovascular disparities, researchers proposed in the May issue of Health Affairs. Their position is bolstered by evidence from the MI FREEE trial.

Enrolling patients in a transitional care program after CABG operations greatly reduced the risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge and saved the hospital $41,000 in costs, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

By implementing a hybrid model of healthcare inspired by industrial engineering concepts, the Mayo Clinic improved the quality of care and reduced costs in its adult cardiac surgery program, it designers reported in the May issue of Health Affairs.

Hospitals that perform an index CABG procedure will be penalized for unexpected 30-day readmissions, even of the patient was discharged from a different hospital, according a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS intends to add CABG to its readmissions reduction program in 2017.

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement may offer a better value than robotic procedures, researchers reported April 30 at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery meeting in Toronto.

ACE is proud to be invited as a guest speaker at the 10th annual Complex Cardiovascular Catheter Therapeutics: Advanced Endovascular and Coronary Intervention Global Summit (C3), taking place June 23-27, 2014 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orlando, Florida. Sheree Schroeder, MSN, RN, RDCS, FASE,  ACE's Director of Quality Review Services , will be speaking on the topic "No Margin, No Mission" A Team Based Approach for Billing.