Market forces like competition cannot stem the urge to merge among and between payers and providers, so neither will they staunch the price hikes in premiums. 

The hope is that the new service will open the door for patients to undergo treatment and diagnostic exams locally instead of having to travel long distances. 

GE previously noted that the acquisition was a reflection of the company’s “continued commitment to cloud-enabled and AI-powered solutions.” 

The two not-for-profit health systems announced the merger on Wednesday. Although the deal won’t be finalized for some time, they teased new investments that will bring 39 hospitals and more than 400 primary and specialty care sites under the banner of a new Sutter Health. 

The problem is limited to surgical stapler reloads used by the da Vinci robot, specifically those manufactured by Intuitive Surgical. The FDA said it’s currently investigating why the reloads are leaving incomplete line formations. For now, they need to be pulled from all patient care settings. 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has tested nearly 40 APMs, of which only two turned out to be successful, which does not bode well for meeting a 2030 deadline to transition to value-based payments.
 

The Trilogy Transcatheter Heart Valve System is the first TAVR device approved by the FDA to treat severe aortic regurgitation. Until now, interventional cardiologists have had to settle for the off-label use of TAVR valves built for treating aortic stenosis. 

The bill is endorsed by the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association and numerous others in the industry.