on October 31, 2012 |
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Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Outcomes, Quality, Performance Improvement, Technology Assessment, Methodologies
Megan Tooley, Cardiovascular Roundtable
The latest results of the PARTNER Cohort B trial, recently presented at the 2012 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in Miami, demonstrate that the mortality benefits of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in inoperable patients are maintained out to at least three years.
Furthermore, the data provide insight into the impact of comorbidities at the time of implant on outcomes, further emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection for TAVR.
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TAVR outcomes remain strong at three years
on July 31, 2012 |
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Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, CT, Imaging, Emergency Department, Risk Stratification, Methodologies, Performance Improvement, Technology Assessment, Cost and Productivity, Efficiency, Throughput
Megan Tooley, Cardiovascular Roundtable
As previously discussed in Cardiovascular Rounds, a number of recent studies have evaluated the overall costs and downstream impact of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in various patient populations.
Adding to this list is the ROMICAT II (Rule Out Myocardial Infarction Using Computer Assisted Tomography) trial. The study assessed if using CCTA as a first diagnostic test in the emergency department (ED) to rule out acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in low-to-intermediate risk patients is more effective than standard evaluation.
The trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 26, further validate the utility of CCTA as a safe alternative to nuclear imaging for certain patients presenting to the ED with chest pain. While overall costs, including all subsequent downstream services, were modestly higher in the CCTA group on average, the efficiency gains from a CCTA-based diagnostic strategy are promising.
Overall, more patients were discharged from the ED with fewer admissions to an observation unit among those receiving CCTA compared to standard evaluation.
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ROMICAT II: CCTA is safe and efficient in the ED, but not a cost cutter
Brian Maher on May 2, 2012 |
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Topics: Cardiac Cath, Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Cardiac Surgery, Vascular, Technology Assessment, Methodologies, Performance Improvement, Medicare, Reimbursement, Finance, Payer and Regulatory Policy, Market Trends, Strategy, Technology Assessment, Planning
Brian Maher
In breaking news this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its final national coverage decision policy for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as an alternative to open aortic valve replacement (AVR) for clinically indicated patients. While considered a boon to the future of the innovative procedure, CMS has set strict hospital and operator requirements to qualify as a TAVR-performing site and receive reimbursement. Therefore, the final coverage decision will serve to effectively limit TAVR adoption to the most qualified programs and place the procedure in the hands of the most skilled operators – a policy widely accepted by regulators and professional societies alike.
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CMS finalizes coverage for TAVR
