Why the hype surrounding renal denervation?

on January 30, 2013  |  Permalink

Topics: Cardiac Cath, Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Vascular, Technology Assessment, Planning, Strategy

Nicole MacMillan, Cardiovascular Roundtable 

Recently, a new treatment for drug-resistant hypertension known as renal denervation (RDN) has been a hot topic in the CV world. Also known as renal nerve ablation, the procedure has enormous potential to improve treatment for a large portion of the more than 68 million hypertensive patients in the United States, and may have a similarly dramatic impact for CV programs once it's approved by the FDA.

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Why the hype surrounding renal denervation?

First appropriate use criteria for peripheral vascular testing released

on June 19, 2012  |  Permalink

Topics: Vascular, Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Appropriateness, Quality, Performance Improvement

Megan Tooley, Cardiovascular Roundtable

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), in partnership with 10 other professional societies, has developed the first appropriate use criteria (AUC) for non-coronary vascular testing.

These new criteria, released online ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, rank the appropriateness of peripheral vascular ultrasound and physiological studies in patients with suspected or known non-coronary vascular disease.

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First appropriate use criteria for peripheral vascular testing released

CMS finalizes coverage for TAVR

Brian Maher on May 2, 2012  |  Permalink

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