Medtech R&D adapting under new pressures, industry study shows

The shift to value-based payment models and already tight profit margins are ratcheting up pressure, but the device makers are adjusting their R&D investment strategies in response.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 4, 2018

8 medtech companies get leg up from FDA for opioid devices

Winners of the agency's Innovation Challenge to combat opioid abuse now have access to closer collaboration with FDA as they look to jointly fast track their products to market. 

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 4, 2018

HHS outlines broad plan to reduce EHR burden

The 74-page draft strategy, required by the 21st Century Cures Act, focuses on reducing time and effort tied to regulatory reporting requirements and increasing functionality and user-friendliness of EHRs.

By Meg Bryant • Nov. 29, 2018

Telemedicine use among commercially insured skyrocketed since 2005

Driven by payer coverage for direct-to-consumer telemedicine, annual visits increased by 52% annually from 2005 to 2014 and a whopping 261% from 2015 to 2017, according to a JAMA study.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 29, 2018

BD, Microsoft create software to identify drug diversion

The algorithms analyze dispensing data to spot suspicious activity by clinicians.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 29, 2018

Cybersecurity, telehealth, tech disruptors top health system concerns for 2019

Nearly 90% of health systems expect to increase spending on cybersecurity in the coming year, many by more than 5%, according to the Center for Connected Medicine.

By Meg Bryant • Nov. 26, 2018

Medtronic buys nutrition data startup for diabetes care

Nutrino Health’s services include artificial intelligence tools for personalized analysis of how nutritional intake will affect a person's health.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 26, 2018

Sandoz and Pear begin selling digital substance use treatment

The FDA called it the first mobile medical app to treat substance use disorders. Pear raised $50 million to fund the commercialization before deciding to pass responsibility for the introduction onto Sandoz.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 21, 2018

FDA plan would ease regulations for prescription drug apps

The agency is seeking public comment on a proposed regulatory framework that would treat most prescription drug apps, including dose calculators, symptom trackers and medication reminders, as promotional labeling.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 20, 2018

Telehealth laws inhibit widespread use in Medicare population, CMS says

The agency is taking steps to open up virtual care options in some alternative payment models, but use among fee-for-service beneficiaries is only 0.25%, according to a new report.

By Meg Bryant • Nov. 19, 2018

Abbott seeks clearer security standards as feds increase cyber risk focus

President Trump is expected to sign legislation Friday creating a new cyber agency within the Department of Homeland Security. 

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 16, 2018

With technology foundation solidified, Johnson & Johnson's attention turns to what's next

Though advanced in its technical capabilities, J&J has weighed the merits of build versus buy when it comes technologies like AI.

By Naomi Eide • Nov. 16, 2018

CMS' Verma outlines vision for connected digital health network

The agency also submitted a report to Congress on the state of Medicare telehealth, outlining how beneficiaries are currently using remote care and how CMS is looking to further expand similar services to rural areas.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 16, 2018

Philips report identifies barriers to telehealth uptake

Reimbursement issues and access to high-speed internet are among the factors throttling adoption.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 16, 2018

House chairman sees 'every indication' that VA's EHR difficulties will continue

"Frankly," Indiana Rep. Jim Banks said, "the more I learn about the EHR program, the more daunting it has become." 

By Tony Abraham • Nov. 15, 2018

ResMed wraps up $750M MatrixCare buyout in SaaS push

The sleep apnea company has spent almost $1.7 billion on software businesses in recent years.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 15, 2018

Millennial to menopausal, women's health is fertile space for startups

Early-stage investors have increased support for female-specific devices and direct-to-consumer diagnostics in the last five years, as the women’s health market is poised to reach $50 billion globally by 2025.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 14, 2018

Amazon expands catalog of HIPAA-eligible AI services

Amazon Translate, Amazon Comprehend and Amazon Transcribe can now be used in workflows involving personal patient information. 

By Meg Bryant • Nov. 12, 2018

3D printing poised to disrupt healthcare

Health industry types are "100% convinced, and rightly so, that [3D printing] will be a core part of their business in five to 10 years," ISG's Michael Harmon said.

By Meg Bryant • Nov. 12, 2018

Quest Diagnostics adds Apple Health integration for lab results

The move follows rival LabCorp's deal with Apple to add a similar integration for iPhone users.

By David Lim • Nov. 12, 2018

AliveCor's Apple add-on detects afib at similar rate to costly implant

KardiaBand, a wearable electrocardiogram that retails for under $200, spotted 97% of the cardiac events detected by implantable loop recorders​.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 11, 2018

FDA shares open source app for collecting real-world data

Researchers can use the code to create custom branded apps that collect information from patients.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 7, 2018

LabCorp rolls out Apple Health integration for lab test results

CEO David King argued the move to enable patients to view their testing results comes at a time when individuals are increasingly interested in gaining a "more holistic view of their health."

By David Lim • Oct. 31, 2018

FDA panel to review first-of-a-kind heart failure device

The advisory group will vote on Impulse Dynamics' premarket application for a cardiac contractility modulation device to treat class III heart failure at a December meeting.

By Susan Kelly • Oct. 29, 2018

ResMed posts double-digit growth as software sales soar

Results were burnished by the acquisition of home health software provider HEALTHCAREfirst.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 26, 2018