COVID-19: Page 21


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    Brian Tucker/MedTech Dive
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    4 key trends for payers and providers in 2021

    The COVID-19 crisis may spur speedier adoption of value-based care and partnerships between health systems and payers in the year ahead.

    By Samantha Liss • Jan. 22, 2021
  • Q&A

    ACLA seeks lab reimbursement changes as need for COVID-19 testing surges

    Julie Khani, president of the American Clinical Laboratory Association, which includes Quest and LabCorp, says there are coverage gaps and that clarifications are needed for which tests are paid for by insurers.

    By Jan. 22, 2021
  • Former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden speaking with attendees at the Presidential Gun Sense Forum hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action at the Iowa Events Center in
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    "Joe Biden" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Biden appoints Janet Woodcock as acting FDA chief, plans COVID-19 testing board

    The longtime agency staffer is reportedly being considered to permanently fill the role. The president also named acting directors for HHS and CMS.

    By Shannon Muchmore • Jan. 21, 2021
  • Boston Scientific bets on cardiac wearables with $925M Preventice buy

    The deal is the latest in the fast-growing space, coming on the heels of Hillrom's $375 million BardyDx buy on Tuesday and Philips' $2.8 billion purchase of BioTelemetry last month.

    By Jan. 21, 2021
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    Courtesy of Abbott Labs
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    Abbott antigen test misses two-thirds of COVID-19 asymptomatic cases: CDC

    Compared to gold standard PCR tests, the company's point-of-care BinaxNOW diagnostic had a 35.8% sensitivity when used to analyze samples taken from individuals without symptoms, according to the agency.

    By Jan. 21, 2021
  • CMS expands transcatheter mitral coverage, boosting Abbott's MitraClip device

    Wall Street analysts said the national coverage determination could triple the patient base eligible for Abbott's MitraClip device, adding fuel to a growing and under-penetrated market.

    By Jan. 20, 2021
  • Forging trust in AI, sustaining the virtual care boom and other CES takeaways

    "You can't just set a piece of software in front of somebody and say 'trust me,'" Christina Silcox, digital health fellow at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, said at the consumer tech conference.

    By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 19, 2021
  • Thermo Fisher buys Mesa Biotech for $450M to bolster rapid point-of-care testing

    The all-cash acquisition, which includes the potential for an additional $100 million upon completion of milestones, adds Mesa's PCR test platform for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, RSV and strep A to Thermo's portfolio.

    By Jan. 19, 2021
  • MedTech Europe calls for EU to retain support for digital health post-pandemic

    The industry wants reimbursement changes and other measures to make digital health permanent.

    By Jan. 19, 2021
  • Philips to acquire Capsule Technologies in $635M deal, growing patient data capabilities

    The move follows the medtech giant's $2.8 billion acquisition of cardiac monitoring company BioTelemetry in December, one of 2020's largest deals.

    By Jan. 19, 2021
  • Members of the Army and Air National Guard from across several states have been activated under Operation COVID-19 to support federal, state and local efforts. (
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    The image by The National Guard is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Abbott, Quidel tout big COVID-19 testing year despite vaccine rollout: JPM21

    "I don't see COVID just simply going away, but I do see it looking more like a flu-like seasonal test. And if you think about it globally, it's a pretty significant amount of volume," Abbott CEO Robert Ford said at J.P. Morgan's conference.

    By Jan. 15, 2021
  • Boston Scientific Q4 misses Wall Street, a laggard in early medtech previews: JPM21

    The fourth quarter miss points to "further softness" in the first quarter as COVID-19 cases surge, J.P. Morgan analysts said.    

    By Jan. 13, 2021
  • Steris inks $4.6B buy of Cantel Medical amid flurry of M&A

    It's the biggest deal so far this year. Wall Street analysts said COVID-19 infection concerns should boost Cantel in the long term.

    By Jan. 13, 2021
  • 3 takeaways from JP Morgan: Electives, M&A and looking past COVID-19

    Execs from Medtronic, Baxter and BD are among those previewing the year ahead at the bank's annual healthcare conference.

    By , Jan. 12, 2021
  • In medtech win, MDR-IVDR remote audits OK'd amid pandemic pressures

    An official for MedTech Europe, which pushed for flexibility ahead of new medical device rules set to kick in later this year, called the move "significant and positive."

    By Jan. 12, 2021
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    "State Capitol Building, USA, California, Sacramento" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Pixy.
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    California proposes expanding Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors

    The budget proposal seeks to increase access to CGMs among adults with Type 1 diabetes covered by the state's Medicaid program Medi-Cal. Abbott, Dexcom, Medtronic and Senseonics compete for the U.S. CGM market.

    By Jan. 11, 2021
  • The FDA logo on a glass pane at the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Maryland.
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    Jacob Bell/MedTech Dive
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    FDA flags COVID-19 false negative risk from virus variant of Thermo Fisher, Applied DNA and Mesa tests

    Sensitivity may be affected by emerging forms of the virus, though the agency said "the impact does not appear to be significant." In fact, the tests may help to spot where a fast-spreading variant is prevalent.

    By Jan. 11, 2021
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    Fotolia
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    Medtech M&A to take off after pandemic slowed deals in 2020: EY

    Dealmaking in 2021 will be fueled by financial firepower across the industry at an "all-time high" of nearly $500 billion, according to the consultants.

    By Jan. 10, 2021
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    "White House Press Briefing". Retrieved from The White House.
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    HHS allocates $300M for Abbott COVID-19 rapid tests or 'equivalent' testing tech

    The agency has yet to decide if it will purchase Abbott's or a similar diagnostic from a rival, Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir said Thursday.

    By Jan. 8, 2021
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    Permission granted by Quidel Corporation
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    Quidel prelim Q4 revenue miss 'a big surprise' to Wall Street

    Later-than-expected FDA approvals and supply chain challenges were among the factors, analysts suggested. But they are still optimistic about the company's near term prospects.

    By Jan. 8, 2021
  • PerkinElmer inks $591M Oxford Immunotec buy to challenge Qiagen in TB market

    The deal comes amid a flurry of medtech M&A during the first week of 2021. Hologic inked two acquisitions in the women's health space and Stryker said it would buy sensor maker OrthoSensor.

    By Jan. 8, 2021
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    Jacob Bell
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    FDA tracks impact of COVID-19 mutations on test performance

    The agency is concerned existing tests might miss new variants, Tim Stenzel, director of the FDA's Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, said. Thermo Fisher's Taqpath COVID-19 assay may detect the U.K. version. 

    By Jan. 7, 2021
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    Wall Street paints rosy 2021 for medtech as electives snap back

    After economic challenges throughout 2020, sell-side analysts predict procedure-dependent companies like Medtronic, Abbott and Zimmer Biomet to outperform this year as procedure volumes return.

    By Jan. 7, 2021
  • Hologic's $230M Biotheranostics buy its 2nd M&A deal of 2021

    Some Wall Street analysts were surprised by the target, but others suggested the move could strengthen the company for a post-coronavirus environment.

    By Jan. 6, 2021
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    Fotolia
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    Color raises $167M to scale up US testing and telehealth services

    The health technology company, with a valuation of $1.5 billion, intends to use the money to help build a national tech-based public health infrastructure capable of providing healthcare services to large populations.

    By Jan. 5, 2021