Cigna Removes Prior Auth For 1,100 Medical Services | AI In GI - Less Benefit? | Viome raises $86.5M

Interview with Dr. Russ Arjal: "You've to break rules to do something that's transformational" (Scope Forward)

Learn what inspired Dr. Arjal to start Telebelly Health, the challenges and mindset needed to build a digital GI startup and his perspective on the risks that GI faces today.

Gastro Health, GI Alliance and more: What to know about 5 industry leaders (Becker's GI & Endoscopy)

Affiliated physicians. Gastro Health: 375+. GI Alliance: 786. One GI: 195. PE GI Solutions: 700. United Digestive: 126

Cigna Healthcare Removes 25% of Medical Services From Prior Authorization (Cigna Healthcare)

The move which translates to removal of over 600 additional codes is part of the company's ongoing efforts since 2020, resulting in the elimination of prior authorization for more than 1,100 medical services.

Medicine Beats Managing: Medscape Employed Physicians Report 2023 (Medscape)

Employed doctors have been very clear about how little they enjoy business responsibilities and how much they like a steady income.

AI in Colonoscopy: Less Benefit Observed in Community Settings (Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News)

While AI is increasingly seen as a means of improving endoscopy, studies at DDW 2023 hinted at a potential flaw: It may not be as effective outside of the controlled environment of randomized trials, that is, in routine community practice.

Viome Life Sciences Secures $86.5M for At-home Tests and Health Products (MedCity News)

Viome Life Sciences' Series C funding round included participation from Khosla Ventures, Bold Capital and WRG Ventures. In total, Viome has raised $175 million.

US Digestive Health brings in 9 new providers (Becker's GI & Endoscopy)

US Digestive Health has added nine physicians to its network throughout Pennsylvania. Here are the new physicians and the locations they are practicing at, according to an Aug. 24 news release shared with Becker's.

Anesthesia alarm: The key problems and trends 44 ASC leaders are keeping an eye on right now (Becker's ASC Review)

From procedure migration to growing provider and supply shortages, key ASC (Ambulatory Surgery Center) leaders are observing several trends in the industry, some of which are hopeful while others are concerning.

Feasibility studies of multimodal nonlinear endoscopy using multicore fiber bundles for remote scanning from tissue sections to bulk organs (Nature)

The new multi-core fiber optical probe for multimodal non-linear imaging has the potential to be used for clinical applications, such as cancer diagnosis and surgical guidance.

Study Finds NAFLD Severity Correlated with Hypertension Risk (HCP Live)

The study offers fresh insights into the link between NAFLD severity and hypertension, particularly in obese adults without metabolic syndrome.

Urgency Strongly Predicts Inflammation in IBD Patients (Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News)

In a new study, investigators used fecal calprotectin levels to assess symptoms most associated with disease activity.

Digital Health Funding May Be Down, but AI Still Draws Interest from Investors (American Hospital Association)

After remaining relatively flat for the last few quarters, Q2 2023 saw funding reach its lowest level — $3.4 billion — since Q3 2017, according to a recent CB Insights report.

First Guidelines Developed for Childhood Eosinophilic GI Disorders Beyond Eosinophilic Esophagitis (Medscape)

Collaboratively developed by European and North American pediatric gastroenterology societies, these guidelines categorize non-EoE EGIDs by inflammation location and offer diagnostic and treatment advice.

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