When the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) released guidelines in November 2013 for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, healthcare professionals questioned the threshold for prescribing statins. However, researchers found the threshold used in the ACC/AHA guidelines fit an acceptable cost-effectiveness profile.

Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez told the Wall Street Journal that the company is considering offering add-on healthcare services to insurers concerned with the high costs of its newest drug. 

Medtronic has signed a definitive agreement to acquire RF Surgical Systems, a company that develops a system to detect and prevent surgical items left inside patients after wound closure. The deal was for $235 million.

Edwards Lifesciences announced on July 10 that it had agreed to acquire CardiAQ Valve Technologies, the developer of an investigational transcatheter mitral valve replacement system. The deal was valued at up to $400 million, including $350 million in cash.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6), voting 344-77 in favor of the legislation aimed at accelerating drug discoveries and approvals and promoting research collaboration.

A former Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI) salesman has filed a lawsuit alleging the medical device maker participated in illegal marketing practices.

Next year, hospitals will receive slight reductions in outpatient hospital stay payments when treating Medicare patients, according to a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on July 1.

Cardiologists and others treating Medicare patients will receive around the same amount of payments in 2016, according to the proposed Medicare Physician fee schedule released on July 8. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will release the final rule by Nov. 1.