Care Delivery

This channel includes news on cardiovascular care delivery, including how patients are diagnosed and treated, cardiac care guidelines, policies or legislation impacting patient care, device recalls that may impact patient care, and cardiology practice management.

healthcare insurance fraud scam scheme legal lawsuit

Cardiologist loses medical license over years-long fraud scheme

The New Jersey doctor already admitted to collecting more than $1.9 million in false claims from 2017 to 2022. He is also under investigation for an unrelated charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact due to an alleged incident with a patient.

Medicare money payment reimbursement dollar decline george washington

CMS makes 2025 Medicare cuts official—and doctors are not happy

CMS has published its final rule for the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and it includes significant payment cuts. Cardiology groups have been working hard to stop these changes from going into effect since they were first proposed in July.

Boston Scientific ACURATE neo2 aortic valve system self-expanding TAVR valve

Boston Scientific TAVR valve comes up short in comparison with Medtronic, Edwards devices

The Acurate neo2 TAVR valve has been used to treat severe aortic stenosis in other parts of the world for years. In the United States, however, the device has still not been approved for commercial use.  

Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 integrated continuous glucose monitoring (iCGM) system

Abbott CGM sensors can now be worn during common imaging procedures

Sensors from the FreeStyle Libre 2 and Libre 3 continuous glucose monitoring systems can now be worn during X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. The news represents a shift in policy from the FDA, one that came after the agency reviewed extensive testing data.

Cardiologist Sanjit Jolly, MD, MSc, at TCT 2024

Colchicine falls flat in large heart attack trial, convincing cardiologists to stay away

Treating AMI patients with colchicine is not associated with better cardiovascular outcomes, according to new data presented at TCT. The drug did help with inflammation, but that was the only benefit researchers could identify.

robot reviewing heart data

Medicare coverage expands again for AI-enabled coronary plaque assessments

Another MAC has agreed to cover the use of these advanced technologies to evaluate patients for signs of coronary artery disease. 

Medtronic's Affera mapping and ablation system with the Sphere-9 catheter

FDA approves Medtronic’s new all-in-one mapping and ablation system for AFib

Medtronic is now the first company to offer two FDA-approved PFA systems for the treatment of persistent AFib. The company’s PulseSelect PFA system gained approval in December 2023. 

Americans know very little about vascular health, prompting surgeons to speak out

Many Americans have never heard of peripheral artery disease or other common vascular conditions. In fact, a vast majority are not sure what vascular surgeons do.

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.