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.

Portal messaging proves ‘an expansion of between-visit care rather than a substitute for in-person care’
Any lingering fears about patients using online portals to get bonus medical attention for free should be largely quieted, albeit not completely silenced, by a new study conducted at New York University.
Cardiology groups strongly oppose expansion of Medicare AI prior authorization model
ASE, ASNC and SCAI have come out against a WiSER model using AI for traditional Medicare prior authorizations.
Hospitals serving Medicaid patients prepare to take proposed payment caps on the chin
New federal limits on state-directed payments are set to cut Medicaid funding in most states. Hospitals are expected to bear the brunt since they account for the majority—84%, around $78B a year—of state-directed healthcare spends.
Nationwide nursing-home picture comes into focus with new analysis
Either the stakeholders issuing the warnings overstated the risk of widespread closings—or COVID-era emergency funds succeeded in heading off a calamity of national proportions. Either way, patient access has taken a hit here and there.
Cardiologists and surgeons share early feedback after CMS proposed sweeping TAVR changes
Major TAVR policy changes appear to be on the way—should clinicians be excited or concerned? Leading U.S. medical societies are sharing their early reactions.

doctor with overweight patient who may be treated with TAVR or surgery

American College of Cardiology targets preventable heart disease with new screening campaign

The ACC has joined forces with Amgen and Esperion Therapeutics to increase LDL screening in patients with and without a history of cardiovascular issues.

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

Study unearths high rates of incidental findings on pediatric CT scans for trauma

About 10% of these cases required immediate or urgent action, researchers detailed in Clinical Imaging.

hospital payroll healthcare worker wages

Healthcare pay seems to have risen and ‘reset’

Despite slowing growth in year-over-year average hourly outlays, payrolls at U.S. hospitals and outpatient clinics may have plateaued at permanently elevated levels.

Arzhang Fallahi, MD, and David Hsi, MD, discussing imaging-based aortic stenosis screening

Q&A: Cardiologists explore the potential impact of a screening program for aortic stenosis

We already screen patients for breast cancer and lung cancer on a regular basis. Why not establish screening programs for aortic stenosis?

Down syndrome medical imaging radiation dose

Children with Down syndrome receive too much radiation-based imaging

Reviewing 20 years’ worth of data, researchers have found children with Down syndrome are imaged more often than others and, in the process, get exposed to significantly more ionizing radiation.

Weight loss drug semaglutide linked to better heart health, but high costs may limit its impact

It could cost more than $1 million just to avoid a single heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death, researchers wrote.

stroke brain dementia alzheimer's puzzle mental health

Delirium after TAVR: A common side effect linked to increased mortality

Temporary changes in cognition, including disorganized thinking, are seen in a significant number of patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Confirmed: Redo TAVR with balloon-expandable valves is safe and effective

The study, based on STS/ACC registry data, represents a collaboration between several leading TAVR specialists.

Care Delivery

Portal messaging proves ‘an expansion of between-visit care rather than a substitute for in-person care’

Cardiology groups strongly oppose expansion of Medicare AI prior authorization model

Hospitals serving Medicaid patients prepare to take proposed payment caps on the chin

Nationwide nursing-home picture comes into focus with new analysis

Cardiologists and surgeons share early feedback after CMS proposed sweeping TAVR changes