News

High-level briefing: Regional merger scrapped | Provider chain denied | Holiday inspiration appreciated | more

The biggest investor in a nursing home chain can run but not hide from comeuppance for the chain’s alleged role in harms—including deaths—done to hundreds of patients.

FDA approves new drug for genetic heart disease

Cytokinetics has secured FDA approval for aficamten, its new drug for the treatment of symptomatic obstructive HCM. Aficamten will be sold under the brand name Myqorzo.

A diabetic foot ulcer that does not heal due to low blood supply from peripheral artery disease (PAD), and the before and after interventional angiograms of the patient's revascularization treatment. Images courtesy of Foluso Fakorede, MD

ACC calls for better management of peripheral artery disease in diabetic patients

PAD in patients with diabetes is common and associated with an increased risk of several adverse events. A new guidance from the American College of Cardiology reviewed this topic at length, identifying areas where care needs to improve.

Compensation for U.S. cardiologists is up across the board, according to a recent survey published by MedAxiom, an American College of Cardiology company. The report identified similar trends for cardiovascular surgeons, highlighting the country’s high demand for all heart specialists in 2024 and beyond.

SCAI town hall addresses workforce concerns in interventional cardiology

One of the event's primary takeaways was that interventional cardiology does still attract a healthy number of trainees. However, SCAI sees several ways the specialty can improve to be even more appealing in the future.

heart data research doctor cardiologist AI

New PFA registry will use AI, EHR integration to gather real-world data

PFA has emerged as the preferred ablation strategy for many electrophysiologists, but some questions do remain about its long-term impact. HRS is developing this new registry to be as user-friendly for clinicians as possible.

Cardiology’s biggest trend: New scientific statements take on AI-powered coronary plaque evaluations

The ACC and AHA both issued new statements on noninvasive CCTA offerings that use advanced AI to evaluate patients with suspected CAD. These technologies have gained significant momentum in recent years, and experts agree that they represent a game-changing advancement in the world of cardiovascular imaging.

Judge rejects radiologist’s attempt to revive lawsuit alleging age bias led to her termination

The case dates to July 2019, when breast specialist Claire Hanley, MD, first filed suit against New York City Health and Hospitals Corp.

Anthem defends controversial policy penalizing hospitals who use out-of-network radiologists

Rads and other physicians have roundly criticized the change, labeling the policy as “deeply flawed and operationally unworkable.”

Artificial Intelligence AI in healthcare

MRI data suggest COVID likely affects the neurological health of everyone, even those who fully recover

Even if an individual has fully recovered from COVID-19 and is able to return to their normal routines, the structural and chemical makeup of their brain may not return to its pre-COVID state.

American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) President David H. Wiener, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASE, director of clinical operations at the Jefferson Heart Institute, and a clinical professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, explains the growing number of multimodality cardiac imaging experts and how imaging societies need to change to meet their needs.

Societies must adapt to the rise of multimodality cardiac imaging

ASE President David Wiener detailed some of the many ways imaging societies need to adapt now that so many imagers are specializing in multiple modalities. It may be time to change how annual conferences are scheduled, for example, so that the costs of travel are easier to manage.

elephant trunk (FET) technique to treat a middle-aged heart patient, sharing their experience in JACC: Case Reports.[1] This is believed to be the first time surgeons have ever employed this particular approach.

Surgeons use modified ‘frozen elephant trunk’ technique for first heart surgery of its kind

When the devices needed for a specific procedure were not available, a group of surgeons got creative. Their one-of-a-kind approach was a success, and the patient has experienced no complications.

Eric Rubin, MD, vice president of clinical operations at Virtua Health, and the American College of Radiology's CPT advisor to the American Medical Association (AMA), explains the process for creating a Category I CPT code for payments and the difference with Category III temporary tracking codes.

Radiology dominates FDA-cleared AI, but reimbursement lags far behind

As of January 2026, there will only be two CPT category 1 payment codes for newer AI, despite there being hundreds of FDA-cleared medical imaging algorithms.

Around the web

Health Exec