From AI-Driven Solutions to Fax Machine Resurgence

👋🏼 Healthcare Innovators ❤️

👉🏼 Here in case you missed the latest edition: Harnessing Lymph Nodes to Grow 'Mini Livers' for Liver Failure

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🌐 Healthcare | News

New York Empowers Pharmacists to Expand Reproductive Health Access

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has signed an order allowing pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraception without a prescription, aiming to enhance reproductive health access for residents. This move aligns with Hochul's broader efforts to safeguard reproductive rights and ensure individuals can access necessary healthcare services. Pharmacists will now be able to provide up to 12 months' worth of certain hormonal contraceptives after screening and counseling patients appropriately. The initiative underscores the crucial role pharmacists play in expanding healthcare accessibility and supporting patient well-being. Read More

Medicare and Medicaid Expand Coverage for Heart Patients with Anti-Obesity Drugs

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced a significant policy change, allowing coverage of anti-obesity drugs for patients with additional medical conditions, specifically those at risk of major cardiovascular events. While coverage remains restricted to patients with accompanying medical conditions, this move marks a notable expansion of access within government health programs. The decision follows FDA approvals for certain drugs, such as We­govy, to address cardiovascular risks in addition to obesity, signaling a potential shift in treatment paradigms. However, challenges persist, including the need for Congressional action to mandate broader coverage and the necessity for stringent utilization management to ensure appropriate drug usage. Read More

HHS and CMS Update Informed Consent Guidelines for Pelvic Exams

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued updated guidance requiring hospitals to obtain written informed consent from patients before performing pelvic exams on unconscious female patients. This move follows increasing state-level efforts to ban non-consensual pelvic exams and underscores the importance of informed consent in medical practice. The guidance expands the requirement to include other sensitive examinations and providers, emphasizing transparency and patient autonomy. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in penalties, including the loss of Medicare funding for non-compliant hospitals. Read More

🩺  Healthcare | Biotech  

Pioneering AI-Driven Drug Discovery: The Vision of 1910 Genetics

1910 Genetics, led by CEO Jen Nwankwo, is revolutionizing drug discovery through AI-powered R&D. Founded in 2018, the Boston-based biotech company recently secured a strategic partnership with Microsoft to accelerate drug development. Nwankwo's mission to disrupt Big Pharma combines cutting-edge technology with a deep commitment to tackling diseases like sickle cell. Despite facing challenges as a Black woman in a male-dominated industry, Nwankwo is determined to make a lasting impact, both through groundbreaking research and by championing diversity in biotech. Read More

 🚀 HealthTech Startups

Nourish Secures $35M Series A to Revolutionize Telenutrition

Telenutrition startup Nourish has closed a significant $35 million Series A funding round led by Index Ventures, aiming to address the chronic condition crisis through innovative nutrition solutions. Founded in 2020, Nourish connects individuals with chronic health issues to registered dietitians via virtual platforms, supported by insurance coverage from major providers like Aetna and Medicare. With a focus on enhancing user experience and clinical outcomes, Nourish plans to leverage the investment to develop AI-powered personalization tools and streamline administrative workflows for healthcare professionals. This funding underscores the growing importance of food-as-medicine initiatives in holistic healthcare, as seen with recent investments in similar ventures like Season Health and Bitewell. Read More

Milu Health Secures $4.8M Seed Round Led by a16z Bio + Health

Milu Health, a health tech startup, has closed a $4.8 million seed funding round led by a16z Bio + Health. The company also announced partnerships with over a dozen employers to expand access to its AI-driven health savings platform. Founded in 2023, Milu Health's platform integrates patient health records to identify cost-saving opportunities, including finding fairly priced doctors, fighting incorrect medical bills, and accessing affordable medications. With backing from investors like BoxGroup and PagsGroup, Milu Health aims to further develop its technology and broaden its impact on reducing healthcare costs. Read More

Tennr Secures $18M Investment Led by a16z, Reviving Fax Machines with AI for Healthcare

Tennr, a healthcare technology startup, has raised $18 million in Series A funding led by a16z, with participation from Foundation Capital and The New Normal Fund. Founded by Trey Holterman, Diego Baugh, and Tyler Johnson, Tennr leverages AI to automate manual tasks in healthcare, particularly focusing on processing patient referrals, payments, claims, and medical records. Despite the digital age, Tennr acknowledges the enduring role of fax machines in healthcare and integrates its technology to streamline workflows without disrupting established practices. By automating fax-based processes, Tennr aims to enhance patient care, reduce administrative burdens, minimize errors, and improve efficiency across healthcare organizations. With this investment, Tennr plans to expand its team and operations to further revolutionize fax-dependent workflows in the healthcare industry. Read More

🧠 Healthcare | AI | YCombinator

Anima's AI-Powered Clinical System: Transforming Healthcare Delivery

London-based Anima, a pioneer in care enablement technology, secures a significant €11 million Series A funding round led by Molten Ventures. Founded in 2021 by Shun Pang and Rachel Mumford, Anima aims to revolutionize healthcare by delivering a universal operating system that streamlines care delivery at multiple levels. Their patient-facing app resolves 85% of inquiries within a day, marking a substantial improvement over traditional practices. With plans to release Anima 1.5 and eventually Anima 2.0, powered by their proprietary AI system "Annie," the company seeks to democratize personalized medicine and unify healthcare and life science pipelines. This funding injection will propel Anima's mission to accelerate deployment to millions of patients and healthcare professionals globally, promising transformative outcomes for both clinicians and patients alike. Read More

Nvidia's Groundbreaking Collaboration: AI Nurses Transforming Healthcare

Nvidia's recent partnership with Hippocratic AI heralds a new era in healthcare delivery, where generative AI nurses offer medical advice to patients via real-time video calls at an unprecedented cost of $9 an hour. This innovative solution aims to address nursing shortages and rising healthcare costs by providing affordable and accessible care. While the introduction of AI nurses raises ethical and economic questions, Hippocratic AI emphasizes its commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care and ethical conduct, drawing inspiration from the Hippocratic Oath. Nvidia's role in powering these AI nurses underscores its ongoing commitment to advancing AI technology, with potential implications for revolutionizing healthcare access and delivery worldwide. Read More

🗣️ Healthcare | Events

April 8-11: Becker’s Hospital Review: 14th Annual Meeting (Chicago) Virtual April 16-18

April 9-12: Business Group on Health 2024 Annual Conference (Tucson, Arizona)

April 10-11: Digital Health Forum (New York, NY)

April 10-12: National Association of ACOs Spring Conference (Baltimore)

April 12-15: Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) Converge Conference (San Diego)

April 14-16: American Hospital Association Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.)

April 16-17: 24th Annual Employee Health Care Conference (New York City)

April 17: HealthTech Hang Deep Work Day (San Francisco, CA)

April 18: HealthTech Hang Helpful (and Happy) Hour (San Francisco, CA)

April 23-26: National Association of Healthcare Access Management Annual Conference (Dallas)

April 25-27: MGMA Focus | Financial Conference (San Diego)

That’s all for this week.
The Pulse Disruption Team