When Congress passed its latest continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown, it provided no relief for cardiologists and other physicians impacted by ongoing Medicare reimbursement cuts. The American College of Cardiology responded to this development with yet another plea for change. 

Yousif Ahmad, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the latest advances in IVL therapy, including new reimbursement changes for the technology. 

Congress has already adjourned for the year without taking action, but U.S. medical societies are hoping relief from significant Medicare cuts will arrive in early 2024. 

The company and one of its subsidiaries would allegedly confuse clinicians and have them bill government programs for cardiac monitoring services that were more expensive than what they needed. This settlement resolves those allegations. 

The alleged scheme involved a series of diagnostic procedures that, according to the U.S. government, were not medically necessary. 

The policies cover a wide range of interventional therapies, including Shockwave Medical's IVL technology and intravascular ultrasound. 

Ultromics thinks the significant payment increase will help ramp up utilization among U.S. healthcare providers.

Implanting the Barostim device is now associated with an average payment amount of $45,000, up significantly from the previous average of $29,000.