MERIT MEDICAL ACQUIRES ASSETS OF VASCULAR INSIGHTS DEC 17
Merit Medical Systems Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of proprietary disposable devices used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, announced Dec. 17 that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Vascular Insights LLC, based in Quincy, Massachusetts. Vascular Insights’ primary assets are the ClariVein IC and ClariVein
VOLUNTARY MACRA CODES MAY DETERMINE WHAT DOCTORS ARE PAID
New patient relationship categories and codes are one of the most important provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), according to a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine. In January 2018, the billing-code modifiers, which allow clinicians to report their relationship to a patient at a
COMMENT: REDUCING THE REGULATORY BURDENS OF THE HIPAA RULES
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued a Request for Information (RFI) Dec. 12 seeking input from the public on how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules, especially the HIPAA Privacy Rule, could be modified to further
BOOK REVIEWS: ‘A GUIDE TO TREATING FACE VEINS’
‘A Wonderful Resource’ By Joseph D. Raffetto, MD “A Guide to Treating Face Veins” is a wonderful resource and compilation of work by Dr. Ronald Bush and Mrs. Peggy Bush. Facial veins are uncommonly treated in most clinical practices but is a common problem among patients who seek medical
INSURANCE OBSTACLES TO TREATMENT BAFFLE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM VENOUS REFLUX
“My veins are covered by insurance, right? But, the XYZ Insurance Co. representative said my varicose veins are a covered benefit on my insurance plan.” By James White, MD How many times have these words been uttered by potential patients upon arrival to our vein clinics? Yet,
Praticare Medicina in Italia
Phlebologist compares practicing specialized medicine abroad By Emma Stout, MD I grew up in Italy, idolizing my grandfather, who was a surgeon. With his influence, I became passionate about the medical field, specifically practicing specialized medicine and providing the best possible care for all patients. I am
VEIN911 CEO FORMS MANAGEMENT SERVICE FOR INDEPENDENT PRACTICES
The CEO of Vein911 Vein Treatment Centers, 21-year cancer survivor and healthcare industry veteran Chris Pittman, MD, has launched Health Performance Specialists (HPS), a national Management Services Organization for independent physicians. HPS helps independent physicians compete, succeed and thrive in today’s medical practice environment. The organization is designed to disrupt current healthcare
ACP CHANGES ITS NAME TO AMERICAN VEIN & LYMPHATIC SOCIETY; AVLS OFFICIAL STATEMENT
By Vanessa Salvia The American College of Phlebology (ACP) has changed its name to the American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS). The organization is still working on its new logo. The American College of Phlebology Foundation will be known as the Foundation for Venous and Lymphatic Disease, or FVLD. During
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC ACQUIRING BTG
Boston Scientific has reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended offer to acquire BTG plc., a United Kingdom-based company that develops and commercializes products used in minimally-invasive procedures, targeting vascular diseases and cancer, as well as acute care pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the transaction, holders
26,000-PERSON STUDY: FISH OIL AND VITAMIN D PILLS NO GUARD AGAINST CANCER OR SERIOUS HEART TROUBLE
By Liz Szabo Kaiser Health News A widely anticipated study has concluded that neither vitamin D nor fish oil supplements prevent cancer or serious heart-related problems in healthy older people, according to research presented Nov. 10 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Researchers defined serious heart problems as the