Pfizer forecasts $100B in sales, fueled by COVID-19 vaccine, pill
The company estimated revenue from its COVID-19 vaccine and new antiviral pill Paxlovid will total $54 billion this year.
Robots cushion omicron’s blow to Q4 orthopaedic device sales
Zimmer Biomet, Stryker and Johnson & Johnson’s businesses endured more pressures tied to the postponement of elective procedures in the fourth quarter, but sales of their robotic systems continued to expand.
Staffing overtakes financial challenges as top concern among hospital CEOs, survey finds
While earlier shortages were characterized by staff calling in sick and school closures, stress and burnout now are leading to rising turnover with many healthcare personnel at their breaking points.
Hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections rare and dropping, study suggests
In the last half of 2021, the rate of patients who contracted COVID-19 in a hospital rose at only half the rate as overall COVID-19 admissions, likely due to increased vaccination rates, researchers said.
COVID-19 upended the cold chain. And it was for the best.
Ultimately, the necessitated innovations of the last two years accelerated the development of a smarter, more resilient global infrastructure.
Congress poised to address mental health crisis — including fining payers for benefit inequities
“If we’re going to respond to the behavioral health issues the pandemic has made worse … that will take legislative action,” Senate health committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., said.
4 key trends for procedure-reliant medtechs in 2022
Medical device companies likely will face the same challenges this year that they have been dealing with since the pandemic’s start, such as procedure volatility and hospital staffing shortages.
Omicron sent COVID-19 back into top telehealth diagnoses in November
Telehealth use rose in every census region in November as patients again avoided medical settings and some became infected with the newest coronavirus variant, according to data from Fair Health.
FDA must improve medical device interoperability through data standards: JAMA
The authors list a range of potential positive outcomes of improved device interoperability, using the experience of the consumer technology and telecommunications industries to make their case.
Along with rate increase for MA plans, CMS pitches closer look at social determinants of health
Cowen analysts said the rate increase “should support another year of benefit enhancements & strong enrollment growth,” and noted that in recent years the final rate has been higher than what was first proposed.