Financial

Vaso Corporation, a Diversified Medical Technology Company Currently Trading on the OTCQX Market, to List on Nasdaq via SPAC Merger

Business Combination with Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I is Expected to Be Completed in First Quarter of 2024

Merger with Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I (NASDAQ:AVHI) expected to improve capital market access for existing and prospective investors of Vaso Corporation (OTCQX:VASO).
The transaction values Vaso at a pro forma equity value of approximately $176 million at $10 per share.
Upon closing of the transaction, existing Vaso shareholders will receive consideration consisting entirely of shares of the surviving public combined company.

PLAINVIEW, NY, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – Vaso Corporation (“Vaso,” or “the Company”), a diversified medical technology company currently trading on the OTCQX market, today announced its plan to uplist from the OTCQX market to the Nasdaq Stock Market via a business combination (the “Transaction”) with Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I (“Achari”, NASDAQ:AVHI). Upon the closing of the Transaction, Vaso common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbols “VASO” and “VASOW”, respectively. Vaso’s common stock will continue to trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol “VASO” until trading on Nasdaq commences following the consummation of the proposed business combination.
Vaso is led by Chief Executive Officer Jun Ma, who will continue to lead the combined company following the proposed business combination. Achari is led by Chief Executive Officer Vikas Desai, who is also Chairman of Achari’s Board of Directors.
Company Overview
Vaso Corporation is a diversified medical technology company with several distinctive but related specialties: managed IT systems and services, including healthcare software solutions and network connectivity services; professional sales services for diagnostic imaging products; and design, manufacture and sale of proprietary medical devices.
The Company operates through three wholly owned subsidiaries:

VasoTechnology, Inc. provides network and IT services through two business units: VasoHealthcare IT Corp., a national value added reseller of Radiology Information System (“RIS”), Picture Archiving and Communication System (“PACS”), and other software solutions from various vendors as well as related services, including implementation, management and support; and NetWolves Network Services LLC, a managed network services provider with an extensive, proprietary service platform to a broad base of customers.
Vaso Diagnostics, Inc. d.b.a. VasoHealthcare, provides professional sales services and is the operating subsidiary for the exclusive sales representation of a large healthcare diagnostic imaging equipment manufacturer in certain market segments in the United States.
VasoMedical, Inc. manages and coordinates the design, manufacture and sales of proprietary medical equipment and software, as well as operates the Company’s overseas assets including China-based subsidiaries.

Transaction Overview
The Transaction values Vaso at a pro forma equity value of approximately $176 million, at $10.00 per share. The Boards of Directors of Vaso and Achari have each approved the Transaction, the consummation of which is subject to various customary closing conditions, including the filing and effectiveness of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) by Achari with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the filing and clearance by the SEC of a proxy statement by Vaso and the approval of the stockholders of both Achari and Vaso of the proposed business combination (although Vaso shareholders representing 44% of Vaso’s outstanding shares have entered into support agreements committing them to vote in favor of the Transaction). The Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024.
Additional information, including a copy of the business combination agreement, will be provided in Current Reports on Form 8-K to be filed by each of Achari and Vaso with the SEC.
Advisors
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. is serving as financial and capital markets advisor to Vaso. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is acting as legal advisor to Achari and Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP is acting as legal advisor to Vaso.
About Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I
Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I (NASDAQ: AVHI) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Achari intends to file with the SEC the Registration Statement, which will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Achari, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Achari’s common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the vote by Achari’s stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination and related matters as may be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the securities to be issued in the business combination. Vaso intends to file with the SEC (the “Company Proxy Statement”) a preliminary proxy statement of Vaso, which will be the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Vaso’s common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the vote by Vaso’s stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination and related matters as may be described in the proxy statement.
After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Achari will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its stockholders. After clearance from the SEC with respect to the Company Proxy Statement, Vaso will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders. Achari’s and Vaso’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari, and any amendments thereto, the preliminary proxy statement to be filed by Vaso, and any amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari and the definitive proxy statement to be filed by Vaso, because such documentation will contain important information about Achari, Vaso and the proposed business combination. This press release is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the Company Proxy Statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari, the definitive proxy statement to be filed by Vaso or any other document that Achari or Vaso will send to their respective stockholders in connection with the business combination.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, COMPANY PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION.
The definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari and the definitive proxy statement to be filed by Vaso will each be mailed to Achari and Vaso’s respective stockholders as of record dates to be established for voting on the proposed business combination and related matters. Stockholders of Achari and Vaso may obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari and the proxy statement to be filed by Vaso, when available, without charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing requests to each of: Vaso Corporation, 137 Commercial Street, Suite 200, Plainview, New York 11803 or Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I, 60 Walnut Avenue, Suite 400, Clark, NJ 07066, as applicable.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Participants in Solicitation
This press release is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or security holder. However, Achari and Vaso and their respective directors, officers and other members of their management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Achari’s and Vaso’s stockholders with respect to the proposed business combination and related matters. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of the directors and officers of Achari and Vaso in the proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Achari relating to the proposed business combination when it is filed with the SEC and the proxy statement to be filed by Vaso relating to the proposed business combination when it is filed with the SEC. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “forecasted,” “projected,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or otherwise indicate statements that are not of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the effect of changes taking place across the intersection of the information technology and healthcare industries, (ii) continuation of the Company’s agreement with a major healthcare diagnostic imaging equipment manufacturer, (iii) the impact of competitive technology and products and their pricing on the Company’s technology and products, (iv) medical insurance reimbursement policies, (v) unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems, (vi) unforeseen difficulties and delays in product development programs, (vii) the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payors in the United States and overseas, and (viii) the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company’s and Achari’s SEC reports. The forgoing factors are not exhaustive and additional factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of negotiations and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the business combination; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Achari or Vaso, the combined company or others following the announcement of the business combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (3) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Achari or Vaso or to satisfy other conditions to closing; (4) changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the business combination; (5) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; (6) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Vaso as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; (7) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; (8) costs related to the business combination; (9) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (10) the possibility that Vaso or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors and (11) Vaso’s estimates of expenses and profitability. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.
The reader should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Achari’s final prospectus dated October 14, 2021  (Registration No. 333-258476), related to its initial public offering, Achari’s and Vaso’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and other documents filed by Achari and Vaso from time to time with the SEC.
The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which only speak as of the date made, are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Achari and Vaso. Achari and Vaso expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations of Achari or Vaso with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
SOURCE Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I

Medtronic announces cash dividend for third quarter of fiscal year 2024

DUBLIN, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The board of directors of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) on Thursday, December 7, 2023, approved the company’s cash dividend for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 of $0.69 per ordinary share. This quarterly declaration is consistent with the dividend increase announcement made by the company in May 2023. Medtronic is a constituent of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index, having increased its annual dividend payment for the past 46 consecutive years. The dividend is payable on January 12, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2023.
About MedtronicBold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Contacts:

Erika Winkels           
 Ryan Weispfenning

Public Relations       
 Investor Relations

+1-763-526-8478       
 +1-763-505-4626

SOURCE Medtronic plc

Artivion Appoints Lance A. Berry as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; Announces Retirement of D. Ashley Lee, Chief Financial Officer

Reaffirms Financial Guidance Provided on November 2, 2023
ATLANTA, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Artivion, Inc. (NYSE: AORT), a leading cardiac and vascular surgery company focused on aortic disease today announced the appointment of Lance A. Berry as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective as of December 4, 2023. In this role, Mr. Berry joins Artivion’s executive leadership team and replaces Mr. D. Ashley Lee, who will retire at the end of the year after a successful and long tenure with the Company and a distinguished career in the medical device industry. Artivion also reaffirmed its full-year 2023 financial guidance that was provided on November 2, 2023.
Mr. Berry, 51, most recently served from January 2019 until November 2020 as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Wright Medical Group N.V. (“Wright”), until Wright was acquired by Stryker in November 2020. Before that, Mr. Berry served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for Wright from 2009 to 2018, successfully spear-heading its merger with Tornier N.V. Additionally, Mr. Berry served as Wright’s Vice President, Corporate Controller from 2002-2009. Mr. Berry also currently serves on the Boards of two public companies, Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. and Vapotherm. Throughout his eleven years as the Chief Financial Officer and a senior executive at Wright, working with Wright’s Board and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Berry led the Company’s strategic transformation and execution to drive shareholder value and cultivated an extensive background in, among other areas, strategy, M&A, financing, business development, digital strategy and investor relations.
“I am thrilled to welcome Lance to Artivion’s leadership team as Chief Financial Officer,” said Pat Mackin, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “His broad experience and proven leadership in growth MedTech companies make him an ideal addition to our leadership team, and he will add significant value in advancing Artivion and its strategy through our next stage of growth.”
“I am excited to join Artivion as Chief Financial Officer and continue my commitment to driving focus, execution and significant shareholder value,” said Mr. Berry. “I look forward to working with Artivion’s exceptional team to continue to grow Artivion into a powerhouse leader in aortic technology and innovation.”
Mr. Lee, 59, who has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since 2004, will retire after a transitional period. Mr. Lee, a proven leader and a winner of Georgia BioTech’s CFO of the Year award in 2018, has decades of medical device experience. He helped lead the Company’s efforts that resulted in a more than doubling of the Company’s size since 2015. Mr. Lee will remain with Artivion in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition. Mr. Lee expressed his confidence in Mr. Berry’s abilities to take on the role, stating, “I have no doubt that Lance will be an excellent addition to the Artivion leadership team. His deep financial expertise and experience in the medical device industry make him ideal to lead the Company’s finance, information technology, human resources and business development functions.” 
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ashley for his leadership at Artivion during a period of incredible growth and transformation,” added Mr. Mackin. “Artivion would not be where it is today without Ashley’s deep expertise and experience, and we wish him the very best on the next leg of his journey.”
Mr. Berry officially began his role as Chief Financial Officer on December 4, 2023.
About Artivion, Inc.Headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, Artivion, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons’ most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. Artivion’s four major groups of products include: aortic stent grafts, surgical sealants, On-X mechanical heart valves, and implantable cardiac and vascular human tissues. Artivion markets and sells products in more than 100 countries worldwide. For additional information about Artivion, visit our website, www.Artivion.com.
Forward Looking StatementsStatements made in this press release that look forward in time or that express management’s beliefs, expectations, or hopes are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made. These statements include our beliefs that we remain on track to achieve or exceed the revenue and EBITDA growth targets for this year; and we remain on a path to meet or exceed our current year guidance, as well as to achieve our 2024 commitments to deliver double-digit compounded annual constant currency revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA in excess of $75.0 million. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including that the benefits anticipated from the Ascyrus Medical LLC transaction and Endospan agreements may not be achieved at all or at the levels we had originally anticipated; the benefits anticipated from our clinical trials may not be achieved or achieved on our anticipated timeline; our products may not be able to consistently retain their existing regulatory approvals or special regulatory approvals in order to be commercialized; products in our pipeline may not receive regulatory approval at all or receive regulatory approval on our anticipated timelines; or our products that obtain regulatory approval may not be adopted by the market as much as we anticipate or at all. These risks and uncertainties include the risk factors detailed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 31, 2023. Artivion does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts:

Artivion
Gilmartin Group LLC

D. Ashley Lee
Brian Johnston / Lynn Lewis

       Executive Vice President,                  
Phone:  332-895-3222

Finance
[email protected] 

Phone: 770-419-3355

SOURCE Artivion, Inc.

BioSig Issues Letter to Shareholders Detailing Technology Innovations and Strategic Focus for 2024

Westport, CT, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioSig Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: BSGM) (“BioSig” or the “Company”), a medical technology company delivering unprecedented accuracy and precision to intracardiac signal visualization, today issued its 2023 letter to shareholders to recap recent achievements and offer insights about the year ahead. In the letter, […]

Merit Medical Announces Pricing of Upsized Private Offering of $650.0 Million of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2029

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MMSI) (“Merit”), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of healthcare technology, announced the pricing of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private placement (the “offering”) only to […]

CorWave Announces the Appointment of Fairuz Hasni as Vice President Human Resources

CLICHY, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CorWave, a French company that develops and manufactures innovative cardiac assist devices, announces the appointment of Fairuz Hasni as Vice President Human Resources. Fairuz Hasni has over twenty years of experience in industrial companies. She will support CorWave in the development of its HR functions and in its […]

OXFORD PROPERTIES BREAKS GROUND ON 165,000 SQ FT EXPANSION OF IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS CARLSBAD CAMPUS

– Build to suit development will expand Ionis’ campus footprint to over 400,000 square feet; grow Oxford’s San Diego life sciences portfolio to more than 1 million square feet -CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”), a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager has officially broken ground on a 165,000 square foot expansion of Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ (“Ionis”) main life sciences campus. Located in the San Diego life sciences submarket of Carlsbad, Ionis’ existing campus features approximately 250,000 square feet of lab and office space. The expansion builds on Oxford and Ionis’ established partnership, with Oxford completing a purchase and long-term lease back of Ionis’ existing campus in October 2022.

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Render for 165,000 SF expansion of Ionis’ Carlsbad life sciences campus and HQ (CNW Group/Oxford Properties Group Inc.)

Today’s announcement bolsters Oxford’s already robust global life sciences portfolio and West Coast presence, featuring additional high-quality assets in the Bay Area and Seattle. Oxford entered the San Diego life sciences market in February 2022 via a US$464 million acquisition of a 13-building portfolio. Oxford’s San Diego life sciences portfolio currently comprises more than 900,000 square feet, which will increase to over 1.3 million square feet upon completion of its development pipeline in market.

“We are very pleased to build on our significant partnership with Ionis, as we each write another chapter in our remarkable growth journeys through the expansion of their main campus,” said Tycho Suter, Vice President, Investments at Oxford. “Oxford is a long-term investor, committed to creating both economic and social value through real estate. Supporting the growth of a highly aligned partner in Ionis, who are deeply embedded in the Carlsbad community, delivers on both fronts as we help provide the infrastructure necessary to develop the life-saving therapeutics of tomorrow.”
Founded in 1989, Ionis is a publicly traded biotech company and a leader in discovering and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics. Ionis currently has four marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading cardiovascular and neurological franchises. It has a long history of R&D successes and has delivered multiple breakthroughs leveraging its expanding technology platform. The campus expansion supports Ionis’ strategic goals of prioritizing its wholly owned pipeline and advancing its drug discovery technology.”The state-of-the-art facility being built by our partner Oxford Properties is more than a building, it’s a testament to Ionis’ enduring commitment to discovering, developing and delivering novel medicines to patients who are living with serious diseases,” said Elizabeth L. Hougen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ionis. “In the same way that Ionis-discovered therapies like SPINRAZA®, the first-ever approved medicine to treat spinal muscular atrophy, and QALSODY™, the first treatment targeting a genetic form of ALS, changed the lives of people battling these devastating diseases, we expect the science done within the walls of this building to have a positive impact on the lives of people with unmet medical needs in the years to come.”Located at 2830 Whiptail Loop in Carlsbad and slated for completion by the end of 2025, Ionis’ campus expansion will deliver 165,000 square feet of purpose-built lab and complementary office space. Bringing Ionis’ overall campus to over 400,000 square feet of space across four buildings, the buildings feature chemistry labs, biology labs and R&D support systems, as well as modern office space. Part of the prominent San Diego North County life sciences cluster, in addition to Ionis, Carlsbad is home to leading firms such as Novartis, Thermo Fisher and Genentech.San Diego continues to define itself as a top three US life sciences market, and one of the most important life sciences markets globally. Its ecosystem is anchored by renowned research institutions and non-profits including San Diego State University, UC San Diego, Scripps Research and the Sandford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Benefitting from this clustering of firms, institutions and associated talent established over decades, San Diego’s life sciences market has grown by 40% over the last 15 years.Oxford has invested in life sciences since 2017. It has built substantial expertise in the sector while deploying capital through a variety of equity and credit investments as well as cultivating a significant development pipeline. Oxford’s life sciences business operates across the top 10 North American life sciences markets and in leading European markets through holdings in London, Cambridge and Paris.
About Oxford Properties Group
Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”) is a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$85 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Oxford’s owned portfolio encompasses logistics, office, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, credit and hotels in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs. A thematic investor with a committed source of capital, Oxford invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and real estate businesses across the risk-reward spectrum. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford is one of the world’s most active developers with over 70 projects currently underway globally across all major asset classes. Oxford is owned by OMERS, the Canadian defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s municipal employees.
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Ionis has been a leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care. Ionis currently has four marketed medicines and a promising late-stage pipeline highlighted by cardiovascular and neurological franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision to become the leader in genetic medicine, utilizing a multi-platform approach to discover, develop and deliver life-transforming therapies.To learn more about Ionis visit www.ionispharma.com and follow us on Twitter @ionispharma.SOURCE Oxford Properties Group Inc.

Telehealth Utilization Decreased in September 2023 Nationally and in Every US Census Region

In September 2023, Hypertension Became the Top-Ranked Asynchronous Telehealth Diagnosis Nationally, according to FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional TrackerNEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — At the national level and in every US census region, telehealth utilization decreased in September 2023, according to FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker. The decline followed an increase nationally and in every region in August. Nationally, the decrease in September was 9.3 percent (a decline from 5.4 percent of medical claim lines in August to 4.9 percent in September).1 The largest decrease, however, was in the Midwest, where utilization fell 15.0 percent. In the West telehealth utilization fell 14.7 percent, and in the Northeast the decrease was 8.2 percent. The South had the smallest decrease, 7.0 percent. The data include claims for the privately insured population and Medicare Advantage but exclude Medicare Fee-for-Service and Medicaid.

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Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, September 2023

Asynchronous TelehealthIn September, for the first time in 2023, hypertension ranked in first place among asynchronous telehealth diagnoses nationally.2 It had ranked in second place in the earlier months of the year. In September, hypertension increased in its share of asynchronous telehealth claim lines nationally and in every region. It ranked first that month in the Midwest, Northeast and West and second in the South.

In September, diabetes mellitus entered the national top five rankings of asynchronous telehealth diagnoses (at number five) for the first time in 2023.
Top Five Telehealth DiagnosesIn September 2023, COVID-19 entered the rankings of the top five telehealth diagnoses in the Midwest (at number four) and fell out of the rankings in the South and West. COVID-19 remained in second place in the Northeast, the same rank as in August. Nationally, COVID-19 fell from third to fourth place.In September, the percentage of telehealth claim lines for mental health conditions continued to decrease nationally and in every region, as it had in August. However, mental health conditions remained the number one telehealth diagnosis nationally and in every region, as it had since March 2020.Audio-Only Telehealth UsageIn September 2023, as in previous months, rural areas showed higher utilization of audio-only telehealth than urban areas in every region except the South, where the pattern was reversed. Audio-only telehealth utilization increased in both rural and urban areas in every region and nationally, except for urban areas of the South, which had a decrease of 14.4 percent, and urban areas nationally, which had a decrease of 4.1 percent.Telehealth Cost CornerFor September 2023, the Telehealth Cost Corner spotlighted the cost of CPT®3 90846, 50-minute family psychotherapy without patient. Nationally, the median charge amount for this service when rendered via telehealth was $181.19, and the median allowed amount was $111.82.4About the Monthly Telehealth Regional TrackerLaunched in May 2020 as a free service, the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker uses FAIR Health data to track how telehealth is evolving from month to month. An interactive map of the four US census regions allows the user to view an infographic on telehealth in a specific month in the nation as a whole or in individual regions. Each infographic shows month-to-month changes in volume of telehealth claim lines and audio-only telehealth usage (urban versus rural); the Telehealth Cost Corner, which presents a specific telehealth procedure code with its median charge amount and median allowed amount; and that month’s top five telehealth diagnoses and top five diagnoses via asynchronous telehealth.FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: “We welcome sharing these varying windows into telehealth utilization as it continues to evolve. This is one of the many ways we pursue our healthcare transparency mission.”For the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, click here.Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealthAbout FAIR HealthFAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation’s largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 44 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data products—including benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indices—to commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health’s systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 Type 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers’ compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.Contact:Rachel KentSenior Director of Communications and MarketingFAIR Health646-396-0795[email protected]1 A claim line is an individual service or procedure listed on an insurance claim.2 Asynchronous telehealth is telehealth in which data are stored and forwarded (e.g., blood pressure or other cardiac-related readings transmitted electronically; A1c levels transmitted electronically).3 CPT © 2023 American Medical Association (AMA). All rights reserved.4 A charge amount is the provider’s undiscounted fee, which a patient may have to pay when the patient is uninsured, or when the patient chooses to go to a provider who does not belong to the patient’s plan’s network. An allowed amount is the total negotiated, in-network fee paid to the provider under an insurance plan. It includes the amount that the health plan pays and the part the patient pays under the plan’s in-network cost-sharing provisions (e.g., copay or coinsurance if the patient has met the deductible).SOURCE FAIR Health

Merit Medical Announces Proposed Private Placement of $550 Million of Convertible Senior Notes

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Dec. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: MMSI) (“Merit”), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of healthcare technology, announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the […]

Silence Therapeutics Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Key Appointments

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Silence Therapeutics plc, Nasdaq: SLN (“Silence” or the “Company”), an experienced and innovative biotechnology company committed to transforming people’s lives by silencing diseases through precision engineered medicines, today announced Curtis Rambaran, MD, previously Silence’s Vice President, Head of Clinical Science, has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer, and Marie […]