When Medicare made it easier for heart failure patients to receive a LVAD at a hospital that does not perform heart transplants, the change was intended to improve patient access. It turns out, however, that the policy shift could be linked to an unintended consequence. 

A comparative meta-analysis found similar procedural outcomes, but higher 90-day mortality—partially attributable to a higher rate of comorbidities.

The new study, published in JAMA Network Open, should help ease any concerns patients may have about regularly taking ADHD medications. 

However, researchers noted, there is still considerable room for improvement.

American College of Cardiology President Edward Fry, MD, spoke about recent Medicare cuts at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago. 

Patients with diabetes faced a much higher risk of a cardiovascular event in 1994 than they did in 2014, according to a new analysis published in JAMA.

Physicians are now bracing for payment cuts after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its final rule for the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule.

Researchers have shared an updated analysis of the SMART-CHOICE study, focusing on major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events—as well as bleeding events—among PCI patients after three years.