Untreated sinus issues can cause many different problems down the line, and it is important to remember during American Heart Month the links between chronic sinusitis and cardiovascular health. According to Dr. Stephen Bane of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, sinusitis can lead to serious issues such as heart attack and stroke.

In a recent episode of the ESG Insider podcast, the focus was on how the insurance industry is tackling the dual challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Rebekah Clement, Corporate Affairs Director at Lloyd's of London, emphasized the importance of considering both issues together, stating, "The two are inextricably linked, and it is so, so important that we're looking at both of them in the round."While the industry has made progress in addressing climate change, there is still work to be done in understanding and addressing biodiversity loss. Clement...

The Cigna Group has announced its plan to sell its Medicare business, a move that industry analysts believe will position the managed care insurer for future acquisitions. The divestiture, in which Cigna will sell its Medicare businesses to Health Care Service Corp. for approximately $3.7 billion, comes at a challenging time for Medicare Advantage as insurers face growing medical costs associated with the plans due to delayed care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.According to S&P Global Ratings analyst Francesca Mannarino, Cigna's Medicare segment lacked the necessary...

The cyber insurance market is facing significant challenges due to the rapidly evolving information security landscape. In a recent episode of Next in Tech, analysts Thomas Mason, Dan Kennedy, and Scott Crawford discussed the complexities surrounding cyber insurance and the technologies associated with it.Insurers have traditionally played a crucial role in managing risk for businesses. However, the rise of cyberattacks, such as ransomware, has brought about a new kind of existential risk that has forced insurers to reevaluate their strategies. Thomas Mason, one of the...

Texas regulators have approved several significant homeowners' insurance rate increases in the fourth quarter of 2023, making it one of the most impactful states in terms of rate hikes in the United States. According to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Texas regulators cleared 46 rate increases during the quarter, with 10 of them ranking among the most substantial in the country.One of the most significant rate hikes was granted to State Farm General Insurance Co. by California state regulators. The company's overall rate was increased by 20%, resulting in a...

Humana Inc. experienced a significant drop in stock value following the release of its fourth-quarter 2023 results, which revealed higher-than-anticipated costs associated with Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage refers to expanded versions of government-subsidized health plans aimed at seniors. The increased utilization of services led to elevated medical loss ratios, impacting managed care insurers throughout 2023.Humana's earnings call on January 25 highlighted the unexpected rise in Medicare Advantage medical costs, which reached 91.4%, surpassing the 89% estimate...

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).