Latest in Cardiology from ACC.org

• JACC LAAC Special Issue: ASAP-TOO Five-Year Results, LAAC Evidence Review, More
  A special issue of JACC published Thursday, Nov. 12, focuses on left atrial appendage closure (LAAC), presenting the most recent results from the ASAP-TOO trial, along with a JACC evidence review for LAAC vs. anticoagulation, and a number of analyses and viewpoints on current LAAC evidence, practice patterns and emerging clinical questions.
• CMS Finalizes Ambulatory Specialty Model For HF Beginning January 2027
  Despite multiple ACC requests for modifications or delay, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to provide a transition or education period before implementation of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) for heart failure (HF). In the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, released last week, CMS confirmed the model will begin […]
• 2027 Hospital OPPS Final Rule: Key Provisions
  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System final rule, finalizing a 2.3% increase to OPPS payment rates that reflects a market basket update of 3.2% reduced by a productivity adjustment of 0.9%.
• ACCEL Lite: Results of the AFFIRMO Trial
  In this episode, Thomas F. Deering MD, FACC and Gregory Y. H. Lip, MD, FACC discuss AFFIRMO: Atrial Fibrillation integrated approach in FraIl, multimoRbid and polyMedicated Older people.
• AI in CV Diagnosis: From Smartwatch Screening to Faster Echo Interpretation
  Two late-breaking studies presented at AHA 2026 highlight AI's potential to extend cardiovascular screening and improve diagnostic workflow, while underscoring the continued importance of clinician oversight.