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FDA clears new AI model for pulmonary hypertension
DOJ accuses New York health system of engaging in anticompetitive business practices
Patient injected with acid instead of saline earns undisclosed settlement
FDA sees promise in voice-based AI model for heart failure
Software errors lead to major insulin pump recall—manufacturer shares a fix
Hospital gurneys
Lawsuit dropped against squatter patient who refused to leave hospital room for 5 months

It’s unclear why Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare dropped its lawsuit, but it did so with prejudice, meaning the hospital cannot refile. There are many unanswered questions surrounding the unusual case, including how common incidents like this are and whether or not the hospital can technically bill for the time the room was occupied.

UnitedHealthcare Avery AI Application
UnitedHealthcare launches generative AI ‘companion’ for patient care coordination

The new agentic program, called “Avery,” is now available to millions of UnitedHealthcare members through insurer's existing app. The company said the model will help patients find providers, understand their benefits, get updates on claims and more.

The U.S. Congress is working on healthcare legislation to fix medicare reimbursements and end annual cuts to physicians.
Report: GOP looking to cut healthcare to offset $200B Iran war spending

Republicans are said to be considering cuts to cost-sharing programs through the Affordable Care Act as a means to save money and fund the U.S. Department of War, which is looking for $200 billion to cover not only the conflict in Iran but also domestic immigration enforcement.

Former American College of Cardiology (ACC) president Kim Allan Williams, Sr., MD, MACC, MASNC, FAHA, FESC, chair, department of medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, and an ACC delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates, discusses AMA Resolution 404 aimed at improving public awareness of low-dose CT lung cancer screening that can also identify coronary artery disease (CAD) ate the same time.
ACC backs AMA resolution to boost lung cancer and heart disease screenings in smokers with low-dose CT scans

Former American College of Cardiology president Kim Allan Williams, Sr., MD, an ACC delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates, discusses an AMA resolution aimed at improving public awareness of low-dose CT lung cancer exams that can screen for coronary artery calcium at the same time. 

cybercrime data breaches in healthcare
Interlock claims responsibility for Kettering cyberattack, stolen data listed for sale

In a post on the dark web, well-known hacker group Interlock is offering a 941 GB trove for sale, said to contain patient financial records, driver's licenses, clinical summaries and more from Ohio-based Kettering Health.

FDA Recall
Multiple anesthesia breathing kits recalled by FDA due to risk of death

Multiple kits manufactured by Draeger are subject to a recall and an updated set of use instructions due to the risk of cracks developing in hoses that can cause inadequate ventilation.

the words "FDA recall" on a board
FDA issues Class I recall on Baxter infusion pumps after serious patient injury

An issue with Novum IQ Large Volume Pumps entering standby mode or being turned off could result in the subsequent patient infusion flowing at an inadequate rate. Baxter has supplied updated use instructions to fix the issue.

Part of the ASNC delegation that visited with congressional members to to explain policy and payment challenges that face. Members of ASNC's Health Policy Committee from left: Daniel Huck, MD, MPH, David E. Winchester, MD, MS, FASNC, Suman Tandon, MD, FASNC, Vikas Veeranna, MD, Friederike Keating, MD, FASNC, and Attila Feher, MD, PhD.
ASNC speaks to members of Congress about major trends in cardiology

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology made its voice heard, pushing for legislation to repeal Medicare payment cuts and tie payments to inflationary increases. Prior authorization and a proposed tariff on radioisotopes were also discussed.

court judge gavel business man bankruptcy lawsuit
Judge triples damages in antitrust lawsuit, ordering Johnson & Johnson MedTech to pay $442M

A bad outcome for Johnson & Johnson MedTech just got worse. A jury previously ordered the company to pay $147M, but the new total is $442M.

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
FDA confirms another recall for Johnson & Johnson’s Impella heart pumps

More than 33,000 devices are affected by this recall. Customers may need to return and replace the purge cassettes included with their devices due to a risk of serious injury or death.