Dozens of medical societies have signed a new letter urging Congress to stop upcoming Medicare payment cuts. “The Medicare payment system remains on an unsustainable path threatening beneficiaries’ access to physicians," they wrote. 

When these malfunctions occur, the FDA explained, it leads to an increased risk of additional interventions.

Though removal of the affected CIED is typically the smartest treatment option—and one supported by specialty groups all over the world—a majority of patients keep living with the device, often resulting in hospitalization or even death.

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association have collaborated on a new update to the much-discussed 2021 chest pain guidelines. The American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions also contributed to the document.

A new consensus statement from the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography emphasized the increasing importance of CCTA among interventional cardiologists. It is no longer seen as “a mere diagnostic tool," the group observed. 

This latest recall was initiated because electrical faults could cause the batteries to stop working, which leads to a risk of serious injury or death.

The USPSTF recommends statin use for high-risk patients between the ages of 40 to 75 to help prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Other patients in that same age group may also benefit, the group noted, but physician input is needed. 

The FDA has had a busy month, overseeing the recall of nearly 88,000 implantable cardiac devices, juggling the continued rise of monkeypox cases in the United States and maintaining an active Breakthrough Devices program. This rundown covers some of the agency's biggest moves during that time.