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Two drug suppliers plead guilty in $50M ‘straw purchase’ resale scheme

The two men, Frank Incognito, 46, and Stephen Corba, 50, conspired with doctors in a scheme involving the fraudulent purchase of critical cancer and macular degeneration drugs, which were then diverted and resold for profit. The U.S. Department of Justice said the unlawful pact lasted seven years.

CVS Health taps Google Cloud for new AI patient engagement platform

Dubbed Health100, the application is being launched as a subsidiary of CVS Health, utilizing Google’s cloud infrastructure data access and security. Powered by AI, Health100 is said to be a full assistant to help patients find providers, services and prescriptions, with the aim being to reduce out-of-pocket spending.

Nonprofit health system, Nuance Communications agree to $5M settlement after data theft

A fired employee of Nuance, a Microsoft subsidiary, is responsible for stealing records on 1.3 million patients from Geisinger Health in Pennsylvania. He has pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors.

4 points about healthcare AI that notable experts are emphasizing in the public square

The brain is the single most complex internal system in the body. That’s a no-brainer. But can you name the runner-up? (Bonus points for guessing what this has to do with healthcare AI.)

High-sensitivity troponin protocol most successful at freestanding EDs

Freestanding EDs demonstrated meaningful operational advantages over hospitals when using an accelerated troponin pathway. This included earlier discharges for low-risk chest pain patients.

Cardiologists develop new AI screening tool for structural heart disease

Researchers have developed an advanced AI model capable of detecting signs of severe AS, mitral regurgitation and other complications in ECG results. For example, one 84-year-old patient who was hospitalized for a fractured femur ended up being scanned and treated with TAVR just days later.

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AI spots heart and lung conditions in eye images of premature infants

The AI model showcased an ability to accurately identify signs of pulmonary hypertension in retinal images. "This opens the possibility of using a simple photograph to gain insights into a premature infant's overall health," one researcher explained.

World’s first polymeric TAVR valve impresses cardiologists—could improve durability, reduce costs

The new-look TAVR system was linked to multiple benefits after one year. The cardiologists evaluating this device belief it could significantly reduce the risk of long-term valve degeneration.

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HHS tells employees to abandon Claude AI, as Trump feuds with developer Anthropic

The outlet NOTUS was the first to break the news, citing an internal email it obtained written by government officials. Agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services have been told to seek alternatives, mainly ChatGPT or Gemini. The shift could throw a wrench in the FDA’s plans to use Claude for speedy drug approvals.

Do older patients shy away from mHealth apps—or do clinicians too often assume they will?

Researchers: “Clinicians’ perceptions about older patients’ interest in and ability to use mobile health apps may negatively impact recommendation of mHealth apps and subsequent adoption by older adults.”

Farapulse Boston Scientific Pulsed Field Ablation PFA fda approval

Boston Scientific’s Farapulse PFA system receives expanded approval

The technology first gained CE mark approval for the treatment of paroxysmal AFib in 2021, when PFA was still brand new. Now, thanks to positive results from the ADVANTAGE AF clinical trial, it is approved for persistent AFib as well.

Cardiology groups to Trump administration: AI still has a long way to go

Multiple cardiology societies responded to an HHS request for public feedback by outlining some of the current barriers to wider AI adoption. "It is essential that any policy frameworks must reaffirm that clinicians—not algorithms—remain at the center of patient care," ACC President Christopher Kramer, MD, said.

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Two drug suppliers plead guilty in $50M ‘straw purchase’ resale scheme