Health Care News on Business Daily

The US insurance technology, or insurtech, market is showing signs of recovery in 2024. Industry consolidation is well underway, and companies that have managed to weather the storm are making progress on their expense reduction plans. Public market investors are also showing renewed interest in growth stocks, leading to a rebound in insurtech stock prices.According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, insurtech stocks have performed well in 2023, with a market-cap weighted index of these companies up 22.2% compared to a decline of 54.0% in 2022. This recovery...

H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity investment firm, has announced that its growth capital investment affiliate, H.I.G. Growth Partners, has completed the sale of its portfolio company, Just Home Healthcare Services (JHC). Lincoln International LLC and Edgemont Partners provided financial advisory services for these transactions while McDermott Will & Emery LLP served as legal counsel to JHC.

Dr. Stephen Bane, an ENT specialist, said that a septoplasty procedure is the best solution for a deviated septum. Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz had similar procedures done to help with breathing and overall health. Dr. Bane, a former U.S. Navy flight surgeon, trained in general surgery in New York at NYU and Bellevue Hospitals and was recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2020.

The Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania has declared Kenneth Offit, MD, MPH, as the recipient of their 2023 Bassar Global Prize. "It is an honor to be recognized with this award from the Basser Center, which is making a difference for patients with inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations across the world," said Kenneth Offit.

Earlier this month, surgeons at Mayo Clinic's Rochester location performed the first-ever robotic-assisted kidney transplant in the state of Minnesota. The procedure was completed by Timucin Taner, M.D., Ph.D., division chair of Transplant Surgery and Patrick Dean, M.D., according to a press release from Mayo Clinic.

The University of Texas Health Houston is conducting a five-year project to study the impact of sounds as triggers for trauma and explore methods to reduce the power of those triggers. Led by Dr. Mohammed Milad, a professor in the Louis A. Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, the project aims to enhance the capacity to regulate fear in individuals.

Mayo Clinic recently announced a multi-year partnership with Oxford Nanopore, a developer of the new generation of nanopore-based molecular sensing technology, to develop improved testing methods for diseases like cancer and genetic disorders, according to a press release from Mayo Clinic.

Jeff Ferranti, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Duke University Health System, has expressed Duke Health's commitment to the responsible use of generative AI in addressing complex issues in academic medicine. He recognizes the transformative potential of AI in patient care, research, and medical education. Ferranti responded to Microsoft's AI solutions aimed at assisting healthcare organizations by collaborating with Microsoft to explore the ethical implementation of AI in healthcare.

Dr. Katalin Karikó and Dr. Drew Weissman of Penn Medicine were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine thanks to their pioneer RNA research.

Mayo Clinic, a renowned healthcare organization, is among the first to participate in Microsoft's 365 Copilot Early Access Program. Mayo Clinic's Chief Information Officer, Cris Ross, emphasizes the importance of privacy, ethics, and safety in their utilization of generative AI and large language models. The goal is to leverage AI-powered technology to advance healthcare transformation and prioritize patient care excellence.

Faculty-Scientists and Clinicians at the University of Maryland Medical System have successfully performed the second xenotransplantation of a pig heart into a patient with end-stage cardiovascular disease. The surgery, which took place on September 20, marked a significant milestone in the field of xenotransplantation.

According to a recent online survey conducted by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), nearly 96 percent of Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) with PTCB's Supply Chain and Inventory Management Certificate reported experiencing drug shortages in their pharmacies. PTCB CEO William Schimmel commended pharmacy technicians for their proactive efforts in addressing these shortages and highlighted their essential role in healthcare delivery.

The University of Melbourne has announced that its music-based app, MATCH, aimed at aiding dementia patients with agitation behaviors, will receive a $1.3 million grant from Google. The app, which harnesses the therapeutic potential of music, will use wearable sensors and AI-driven music adaptive systems to identify early signs of agitation behaviors and offer music-based interventions to regulate mood. The project, known as Music Attuned Technology - Care via eHealth (MATCH), aims to create a better everyday life for people living with dementia.

The Stop TB Partnership said on Aug. 30 that its Global Drug Facility (GDF) has initiated price reductions of up to 55% on bedaquiline, a vital medication used in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).

Morgan Health recently announced plans to enhance healthcare for 160 million people covered under employer-sponsored insurance (ESI).

Captive health insurance continues to be on the rise, and many businesses both big and small are making the switch from traditional health insurance.

An increasing number of businesses are making the switch to captive health insurance from traditional insurance due to concerns like increasing health care costs and a need for more flexibility.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) have become increasingly popular among many people due to the triple tax advantage they offer. This means that if funds are removed from an HSA, the patient doesn't have to pay taxes on the withdrawal. To make healthcare even more affordable for those in need, members of the House of Representatives are currently pushing to expand access to HSAs.

Doug Truax, CEO and founder of Everlong Captive Health Insurance, said the healthcare system needs to be transparent for customers after a 2019 statement by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar was released concerning healthcare costs.

Released last December, Mercer's 2022 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans predicts employer-sponsored healthcare insurance premiums will increase to be larger than normal annual premium increases due to those costs finally being reflective of inflation.