Intellus Worldwide Emerges from Two Research Giants
Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence & Research Group (PBIRG) and Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Group (PMRG), two of the world’s leading healthcare research associations, will join forces to create Intellus Worldwide, Your Association for Healthcare Insights and Analytics. With 100 years of combined experience, Intellus will be operated by 90 of the brightest and most dedicated volunteers in the industry.
Paul Allen, Intellus Worldwide Board Co-Chair and Executive Vice President of Business Development for Olsen Research Group, Inc., said in a statement, “Intellus Worldwide will offer greater opportunities for collaboration and a stronger community focused on innovation within healthcare insights and analytics.” Intellus Worldwide’s mission will be to improve the lives of patients by being the advocate for the healthcare business analytics and insights community and the leading resource for professional development.
GOP Bill Suspends Medical Device Tax for Five Years
The new GOP bill aims to push back an ACA 2.3% tax that would have affected medical device companies as of January 1, 2018 for another five years. The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) has voiced its support for the delay and eventual repeal of this aspect of the ACA for some time now. “MITA appreciates the leadership of Reps. Paulsen and Walorski and Chairman Kevin Brady in working to address the medical device tax before it is set to resume in the new year,” said Patrick Hope, Executive Director of MITA. “The five-year suspension is a step in the right direction for stimulating economic growth, encouraging medical innovation, and improving patient care.”
The tax was projected to raise $29 billion over 10 years, placed on expensive devices such as pacemakers and MRI machines, and paid by the manufacturer. However, the industry says it would have to pass this expense along to consumers.
Walgreens Brings Telemedicine to NYC
Walgreens has partnered with NewYork-Presbyterian to bring telemedicine kiosks, provided by AmericanWell, to Duane Reade drug stores in New York City, Brooklyn, and Queens, starting with a Wall Street location. Non-emergency patients can call a NewYork-Presbyterian doctor via a kiosk for $99 dollars a visit, and use medical devices including a thermometer that measures temperature by swiping the forehead, a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse oximeter that measures the amount of oxygen in the body to transfer the information. NY-Presbyterian is hoping to increase kiosk access points to cut down time spent on emergency room visits as well as build its patient base by servicing those who need quick, simple medical attention.
