Health Care Equipment & Services

Edwards Lifesciences outlined a structural heart growth plan that targets more than US$2 billion in transcatheter mitral and tricuspid revenue by 2030, anchored by its PASCAL, EVOQUE, and Sapien M3 technologies. The plan sits alongside updated Medicare coverage that could enable 100 to 200 additional U.S. centers to perform TAVR procedures, reinforcing the company's transcatheter ecosystem. Edwards' broader narrative projects $8.5 billion in revenue and $2.2 billion in earnings by 2029, requiring 9.3% yearly revenue growth and an earnings increase of about $1.2 billion from $979.9 million today. Three fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community cluster between US$91.47 and US$100.96 per share, against a $100.96 fair value that implies 14% upside to the current price. The company still faces risks around margins, tariffs, and competitive pressure in international markets.

Ensign Group has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.065 per share, in line with its previous payout. The dividend carries a forward yield of 0.15% and is payable Oct. 31 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 30, with the ex-dividend date also set for Sept. 30. The company has now announced a dividend of $0.065 for four consecutive quarters.

Yuanta Securities issued an analysis after visiting the Bloom Mental Wellness Hospital of Ekachai Medical Care Public Company Limited, or EKH, maintaining its "Trading" recommendation and a 2027 base value of 5.85 baht using a DCF method with a WACC of 8.6% and terminal growth of 2.5%. Bloom is a premium 50-bed hospital specialising in mental health and psychiatry, in which EKH holds a 58% stake. It began services in July 2026, targeting revenue of about 25-30 million baht in 2026 before rising to more than 100 million baht in 2027 and growing to roughly 400 million baht per year within the fourth to fifth year once it reaches maturity. Net margin is expected at around 16-18%, with a project IRR of about 16-17% and a payback period of about seven years. On the 3Q26 earnings outlook, the company said revenue in July-August 2026 grew at a double-digit rate year on year, driven by its specialised medical centres covering paediatrics, cardiology and vascular care, and IVF, as well as a rising number of cash-paying patients amid outbreaks of influenza and COVID-19. Profit is expected to grow both quarter on quarter and year on year even as it recognises losses from the new hospital. The brokerage maintained its 2026 profit forecast at 248 million baht, down 5% year on year, and expects a clear recovery in 2027 profit, anticipating that Bloom hospital will reach EBITDA breakeven from 1Q27. It also expects dividend yields of 5.5% in 2026 and 6.1% in 2027.

Activist investor Jana Partners has sent a letter to Cooper Companies urging the contact lens maker to pursue a sale and change its leadership, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Jana said Cooper requires an urgent overhaul to address what it called chronic underperformance and its inability to manage inventory and capital spending. The hedge fund called on the company to replace CEO Albert White, appoint a new board chair, engage with potential buyers of the contact lens business, and consider selling its fertility and medical device assets. Jana began building its stake in Cooper roughly a year ago and previously suggested the company consider strategic alternatives, including a potential combination with rival Bausch + Lomb. Cooper shares climbed 1.7% post-market Thursday on the report; they have slumped 34% year to date, and the company reduced its full-year outlook earlier this month after lowering its contact lens inventory as part of a strategic review.

PRG Corporation Public Company Limited, part of MBK Public Company Limited, or MBK, has acquired a big lot of 125.66 million shares in Srivichai Vejvivat Public Company Limited, or VIH, representing 20.03%, from BBTV Equity Company Limited, the largest shareholder and a company of the Rattanarak family, owner of Channel 7HD, which has held VIH shares since 2014. Two days earlier, VIH shares jumped 10.71% to close at 9.30 baht amid reports of the big lot. VIH operates four hospitals: Vichaiyut International Hospital Om Noi, Vichaiyut International Hospital Nong Khaem, Vichaiyut International Hospital Samut Sakhon, and Vichaiyut Hospital Fai Chai, along with Srivichai Vocational School, and has consistently profitable operations, paying dividends every year, with the latest dividend yield at 4.24%. The acquisition marks MBK's advance into the medical and health business. MBK has six core businesses: rice production and distribution, contract manufacturing, food courts, property and real estate development, logistics, and energy. Synergies are expected, from opening comprehensive health centers or specialized clinics in the group's shopping malls such as MBK Center, Paradise Park, and The Nine Center, to expanding medical tourism with group hotels such as Pathumwan Princess Hotel, and linking customer databases and loyalty programs across the group's businesses.

Simulations Plus announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Cosmetics Regulatory Science Branch has licensed its ADMET Predictor software platform to support computational research for modern cosmetic safety assessment. The contract expands the use of Simulations Plus technology within the FDA and underscores the growing role of predictive modeling and mechanistic science in regulatory research. ADMET Predictor combines artificial intelligence and machine learning with high-throughput pharmacokinetic modeling and predictive ADMET and toxicity assessments, giving FDA researchers a unified computational framework to evaluate both potential exposure and intrinsic hazard. The development supports the FDA's ongoing research into New Approach Methodologies. The announcement builds on Simulations Plus' 2024 research collaboration with the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety to evaluate physiologically based kinetic modeling approaches for animal-free safety assessment of cosmetics and other non-pharmaceutical ingredients. Chief Executive Officer Shawn O'Connor said the FDA's adoption expands the company's relationship with one of the world's leading regulatory organizations and highlights the versatility of its technology beyond pharmaceutical research.

Inspire IVF Public Company Limited, or IVF, has acquired a 24% stake in Eternity Healthcare 369 Company Limited, or ETERNITY, and the two parties have begun discussing avenues for cooperation and are preparing cross-selling to connect their customer bases and expand joint business opportunities. Kesinee Kuldilok, Chief Executive Officer of IVF, said the partnership will reinforce the strengths of both sides, since ETERNITY specialises in men's health, particularly Urology, while IVF is strong in women's health and fertility treatment, covering egg freezing, IVF and ICSI, allowing the two to extend their health services to cover both women and men more comprehensively. The company has also expanded its services under Inspire IVF in the Wellness segment, which officially opened for service early last month on the G floor of the Ploenchit Center building, while the IVF centre is located on the 5th floor of the same building. The Wellness services cover vitamin infusions, blood tests, screening for 10 types of cancer, cell age testing and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, targeting premium customers, who are currently mostly foreign clients, especially from the Middle East, whose per-capita spending is higher than that of Thai customers. For its second-half 2026 plan, the company will continue to market its IVF business, and in about two weeks it is preparing to market and hold roadshows in India in both B2B and B2C formats, bringing a team of doctors along to provide consultations, while in October it plans to travel to China to tap the B2B segment further, alongside driving the Wellness business and building synergies with ETERNITY.

Aevis Victoria reported a net asset value of CHF26.75 per share for H1 2026, up nearly 7% year-over-year and 2.3% versus the prior year-end level, while the discount to NAV remained above 50%, which management described as unprecedented in the group's history. Within the healthcare segment, Swiss Medical Network's EBITDA margin improved from 18.6% to 21.6%, and ambulatory services turned EBITDA-positive for the first time, with its margin rising from 7.1% to 11.8%. The company set a healthcare EBITDA margin target of 23% with organic growth of 2% to 3% per year, noting mature hospitals representing over 50% of the portfolio can reach more than 25% to 26% EBITDA margin while ramp-up hospitals sit at 10% to 20%. Interest expenses declined 43% year-over-year, consolidated net debt stood at CHF846 million with the bulk under Swiss Hotel Property, Swiss Medical Network's net debt-to-EBITDA was approximately 2.2x to 2.3x, and loan-to-value for the real estate business fell to 45%. Chief Financial Officer Michel Keusch cited three catalysts to narrow the discount to NAV: a next phase of value crystallization through selling stakes to strategic shareholders, including the officially announced search for strategic investors in Swiss Medical Network; enhanced investor relations with more roadshows, a Capital Markets Day and greater financial transparency; and a near-quintupling of average daily liquidity over the past two years.

Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend of 63 cents per share, marking the 411th consecutive quarterly dividend the company has paid since 1924. The cash dividend is payable Nov. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2026. Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 54 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have raised dividends annually for at least 25 consecutive years. The company, based in Abbott Park, Illinois, describes itself as a global healthcare leader with 122,000 colleagues serving people in more than 160 countries.

Centene Corporation reported second-quarter 2026 results showing a profitability recovery, with premium and service revenues up 4.5% year over year and adjusted EPS of $2.51 versus a loss of 16 cents a year ago. The insurer reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance floor above $4.80 and said its consolidated health benefits ratio improved to 89.6% from 93%. Centene expects its Marketplace business to generate a 4.5%-5% pretax margin in 2026, while its PDP business should deliver a pretax margin above 3% and Medicare Advantage moves closer to breakeven. Membership remains the main pressure point: Medicaid enrollment ended the second quarter of 2026 at 12.1 million, down 5.5% year over year, and the company projects full-year Medicaid membership to decline 8%-9% from year-end 2025. Centene raised its expected 2026 Medicaid rate increase to about 5%, which could cushion some of the impact as medical-cost trends remain in the mid-4% range.

Medtronic raised the lower end of its fiscal 2027 profit forecast and lifted its revenue growth outlook, citing strong demand for heart devices used in complex cardiovascular procedures. The Ireland-based company raised the lower end of its adjusted per-share profit forecast to $5.94 from $5.90 while keeping the upper end at $6.00, against an analyst average of $5.95, and now expects annual organic revenue growth of 7.25% to 7.75%, up from 6.75% to 7.25% previously. First-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue reached $9.756 billion, up 13.7% both reported and organically, beating the $9.55 billion analyst consensus, with adjusted earnings per share of $1.45 topping the $1.39 estimate. Growth was broad-based across segments, with Cardiovascular revenue up 19.5%, Diabetes up 16.9%, Neuroscience up 10.3%, and Medical Surgical up 10.0%, though Medtronic said about $570 million of the quarter's growth came from an extra week in the reporting period. The guidance still includes the diabetes business, which Medtronic has said it may fully separate before fiscal year-end, though CFO Thierry Pieton said the company is not under pressure to rush that timeline.

Bank of America upgraded Haemonetics to Buy from Neutral on Thursday, citing a recent supply deal the blood management solutions provider signed with Australian biopharma company CSL Limited. The non-exclusive deal follows CSL's decision to terminate its plasma supply agreement with Haemonetics in 2021 and carries no minimum purchase requirements, BofA analyst Joanne Wuensch wrote. Wuensch said that in a healthy plasma market, the return of the CSL contract in the US market should provide upside to organic revenue growth, operating margins, and EPS over the next several years, and she raised her price target on Haemonetics to $123 from $92 per share. Haemonetics, based in Boston, Massachusetts, disclosed the deal last month and said it will report the financial impact on fiscal 2027 results alongside its fiscal second-quarter earnings, scheduled for November.

Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center has become the first hospital in the United States to install the Philips Rembra CT system for acute and high-demand imaging environments, Royal Philips and the McComb, Mississippi hospital announced. The FDA 510(k)-cleared system is now in use in SMRMC's emergency and general radiology departments, where it is designed to accelerate scanning and image reconstruction and help clinicians manage high patient volumes. Philips said the Rembra CT can support up to 270 patient exams per day in throughput testing and features the largest-in-class 85 cm bore. Brent Albritton, Director of Radiology at SMRMC, said the team is already seeing faster system initialization, more efficient image selection, helpful 3D tools and easier patient positioning. SMRMC, the hub of Southwest Health, also sees an opportunity to develop cardiac CT angiography and virtual colonoscopy as its clinical programs and staffing grow.

UnitedHealth Group holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with consensus estimates pointing to earnings of $4.03 per share for the current quarter, a year-over-year change of +38%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter remained unchanged over the last 30 days, while the $19.82 consensus for the current fiscal year, indicating a year-over-year change of +21.2%, has moved +0.6% over the same period. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate of $22.54 implies a change of +13.7%, having risen +0.5% over the past month. Revenue consensus stands at $111.38 billion for the current quarter, a year-over-year change of -1.6%, with $446.78 billion and $458.33 billion expected for the current and next fiscal years, changes of -0.2% and +2.6% respectively. In the last reported quarter, UnitedHealth posted revenues of $112.03 billion, up +0.4% year over year, and EPS of $6.38 versus $4.08 a year earlier, beating the consensus revenue estimate of $110.12 billion by +1.74% and the EPS estimate by +29.15%. The stock carries a Zacks Value Style Score of B, indicating it trades at a discount to its peers.

DarioHealth secured a contract with one of New Jersey's largest health plans, representing approximately 1.5 million covered lives, through its channel partnership with Amwell. The program, which covers Dario's cardiometabolic suite and provider-backed care, is expected to launch and begin generating revenue in the first quarter of 2027. The deal marks DarioHealth's third large state health plan contract through Amwell in the past 12 months, following agreements in Arizona and Florida. The stock traded about 4% higher in Thursday pre-market hours.

Aethlon Medical has agreed to an all-stock merger with North Immunology, sending its shares up 346% in premarket trading on Thursday. The transaction, approved by both boards, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. The merger and a concurrent private placement are expected to provide approximately $180M in gross proceeds and to position the combined company to advance development of NOR-101, a half-life extended IL-13 x IL-18 bispecific antibody being developed for atopic dermatitis and other immune-mediated diseases. Under the merger agreement, pre-merger Aethlon stockholders are expected to own about 4.75% of the combined company, while pre-merger North Immunology stockholders are expected to own about 95.25%, giving the combined company a pro forma equity value of roughly $346.5m inclusive of the private placement. Upon completion, the combined entity will operate as North Immunology, Inc. and trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol NRTX.

SUSMED, a Japanese company that develops therapeutic apps and clinical trial support systems, announced on September 16 that a drug tested in a clinical trial using its blockchain-based system has received domestic manufacturing and marketing approval. According to the company's research, this is the world's first drug approval based on the results of a corporate-sponsored clinical trial that used blockchain. The approved drug is Uekix Tablets, indicated for excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, among other conditions. Viatris Pharmaceuticals obtained the approval, and SUSMED provided the system for the domestic clinical trial. SUSMED's SourceDataSync uses blockchain technology for data verification, checking whether records of patients' conditions and drug effects match the original records at medical institutions, with the aim of reducing manual confirmation work and data entry at medical institutions while maintaining the reliability of the records. Leading up to this approval, SUSMED conducted verification under the government's regulatory sandbox program, and in December 2020 received a response from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare that blockchain-based data verification could replace conventional work. This was followed by a trial that began in November 2022, and in January 2023 the system was adopted for a trial in a different target disease. The key point this time is that a technology still in the verification stage was used in a clinical trial that led to drug approval, and SUSMED says that a separate comparative study showed a reduction in man-hours for clinical trial confirmation work and other tasks.

IDEXX Laboratories announced the expansion of its Faecal Dx antigen testing platform in the United Kingdom to include taeniid tapeworm, covering Taenia and Echinococcus species. The company said the test is proven to detect up to twice as many intestinal parasite infections earlier than faecal flotation alone, delivering broader parasite detection in a single test for both wellness and sick-pet care. Since launching in 2012, more than 50 million Faecal Dx antigen tests have been run worldwide, and with this addition the platform now detects seven of the most clinically relevant intestinal parasite groups, including hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, flea tapeworm, taeniid tapeworms, Cystoisospora and Giardia in select panels. Taenia and Echinococcus species are recognized by the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites as clinically important, and ESCCAP identifies Echinococcus species as one of the three key parasite groups requiring preventive control in dogs and cats due to its zoonotic risk. Current Faecal Dx antigen testing panels and profiles for IDEXX Reference Laboratories customers in the United Kingdom now include taeniid tapeworm detection at no additional cost, and results returning positive for taeniid tapeworms will automatically initiate a complimentary follow-up Echinococcus RealPCR test.

Asia Plus Securities assessed PR9, noting that revenue from July to August grew 5-6% YoY, supported by Thai patients with influenza, COVID-19, and complex cases. Meanwhile, revenue from foreign patients rose 3-4% YoY on higher revenue per bill, particularly from Qatar and Myanmar, reflecting strong 3Q69 momentum. Combined with the absence of special expenses, this supports a recovery in net profit margin from 1Q69 and 2Q69. The company has begun offering Bi-Plane Angiography and HBOT services to accommodate complex cases, with additional depreciation of only 1 million baht per quarter. It will also add ICU and CCU beds in 4Q69 to support bed occupancy above 70%, as well as rising complex cases and strokes. On expanding its foreign patient base, the China market will focus on Premium IVF, while Indonesia is preparing to resume marketing late this year, with results expected to begin showing early next year. There is also upside from the opportunity to resume cooperation with Garuda airline. The research team maintains its 2026 net profit forecast at 842 million baht, up 2.3% YoY, on hospital revenue of 5,445 million baht, up 5.1% YoY, and keeps its Buy recommendation with a 2027 fair value of 23.00 baht. As for the EDGNEX Data Center, a joint venture between a Dubai capital group and PROEN, located next to Building B of Praram 9 Hospital, it has not yet received a license or begun operations. Although there are concerns about heat and electricity costs, there is still insufficient information to assess the impact, so it bears continued monitoring.

Ramsay Santé Group unveiled "Connecting Care 2030," a new four-year strategic roadmap, at its 2026 Capital Markets Day in Paris. The plan targets revenue growth of between 2.0% and 3.0% in FY2027 with a stable EBITDA margin versus FY2026, and revenue growth of approximately 3.0% per annum with gradual EBITDA margin improvement by FY2029, alongside gross capex of about 4.0% of revenue on average over the FY2027 to FY2029 period. The group also targets continued deleveraging, with net debt to EBITDA on a pre-IFRS basis below 4.0x. The strategy rests on five pillars: strengthening the integrated and accessible healthcare offering, embracing digital transformation, active portfolio and contract management, continued cost initiatives, and accelerating profitable growth through new revenue streams. Separately, majority shareholder Ramsay Health Care, which holds 52.79% of Ramsay Santé Group, has announced its intention to distribute its entire stake to its own shareholders through an in-specie distribution expected in December of this year, and Ramsay Santé has applied for a foreign exempt listing on the Australian Securities Exchange through CHESS Depository Interests. Crédit Agricole Assurances, which holds 39.82% of the group, has reaffirmed its commitment as a long-term shareholder.

MindMaze Therapeutics announced the launch of MindMotion Lite by the end of 2026, a tablet-based solution that brings the full range of MindMotion neurotherapeutic activities into the home. The new product delivers all neurotherapeutic activities available on MindMotion GO through a tablet, significantly reducing the hardware requirements for home deployment while retaining full-body rehabilitation capabilities and supporting teleconsultation and remote management. CEO Zach Henderson said the AHA/ASA guidelines updated in August 2026 emphasize sufficient rehabilitation intensity and continuity of care after stroke, yet access to continued neurotherapy after patients return home remains a critical gap, and MindMotion Lite is designed to help close it. The company said the tablet-based format is designed to enhance patient experience, streamline distribution, and reduce home deployment costs compared with MindMotion GO, supporting a more scalable and capital-efficient expansion of its home-based offering. MindMaze Therapeutics will preview MindMotion Lite at upcoming clinical, healthcare and investor conferences, with further details on commercial availability and launch markets to be shared closer to launch.

Cencora is using artificial intelligence to roughly halve the time it takes to make some medical treatment decisions, according to the company's global chief data and information officer, Pawan Verma. Speaking with WSJ Leadership Institute President Alan Murray at the WSJLI Technology Council Summit, Verma described a retinal oncology use case in which doctors analyze large volumes of imaging data to determine treatment. He said Cencora is helping cut a decision process that can take 30 to 90 days roughly in half, speeding access to treatment.

Intuitive Surgical announced that its da Vinci SP surgical system received CE mark approval in Europe for transvaginal gynecologic procedures, the platform's first such indication globally. The authorization expands the SP system's approved applications in women's health and extends its natural orifice surgery portfolio beyond transoral and transanal procedures, supporting the company's strategy of growing the platform through new indications rather than relying solely on new system placements. The approval could help increase utilization of the existing da Vinci SP installed base across Europe, a key driver of recurring revenue through instruments, accessories and service revenue. During its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, management highlighted that SP procedures surged 61% year over year, driven by expanded indications, new instrumentation and broader adoption, while the company placed 38 SP systems in the quarter, up from 23 a year ago, taking the global installed base to 445 systems. Intuitive Surgical also noted that more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications support the safety and efficacy of the da Vinci SP platform.

AT&T Inc. has partnered with LifeMD, Inc. to give its eligible wireless and fiber customers complimentary access to virtual care and pharmacy services. Under the agreement, more than 100 million eligible AT&T customers will receive a LifeMD membership worth $228 annually, with the regular $19 monthly fee waived. The benefit is offered through AT&T's &More program, and customers must enroll to activate the complimentary membership, paying only for the visits, prescriptions, or other services they use. The rollout will initially cover about 29 million AT&T customers in 11 states and is expected to expand nationwide in January 2027. The initiative supports AT&T's efforts to broaden customer benefits and strengthen engagement as demand for telemedicine grows, amid competition from Verizon Communications, Inc. and T-Mobile US, Inc., which are advancing their own AI-powered and 5G healthcare offerings.

Alluvium Asset Management raised its stake in McKesson Corporation to 6.8% of the Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund, according to the fund's second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The fund said McKesson, the Irving, Texas-based drug distributor, fell 12.6% in the quarter even though its full-year results came in perfectly in line with expectations, and management gave strong guidance for next year's earnings while reiterating 13%-16% long-term growth expectations. After feeding those numbers through its model, Alluvium said its valuation rose 18%, and with the share price trading below that level it bought a little more. McKesson closed at $899.56 per share on September 15, 2026, returning 5.37% over the past month and 29.95% over the past 52 weeks, with a market capitalization of $106.21 billion and a trading range of $687.68 to $999.00. The fund itself declined 1.4% in EUR terms, 2.2% in USD terms and 3.9% in AUD terms in the quarter, a period it described as a sharp shift from geopolitical uncertainty and oil market volatility to an equity rally led by semiconductor companies.

CVS Health is trading near $94, a 19% discount to the $116.28 average analyst price target and roughly 50% below the $141.05 base-case one-year target in 24/7 Wall St.'s own valuation model. Management raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $7.90 to $8.10 from $7.30 to $7.50 and lifted operating cash flow guidance to at least $11.5 billion. Second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.58 beat consensus by 37.97%, and Aetna's medical benefit ratio improved to 87.4% from 89.9%. Full-year 2026 consensus EPS has drawn 22 upward analyst revisions and zero downward revisions over the trailing 30 days. The bull case rests on Aetna's margin recovery proving durable, while PBM re-regulation, 340B pressure, and drug pricing rules remain the sharpest threats to the thesis. The next checkpoint is third-quarter 2026 earnings, expected November 4, 2026, a date not yet confirmed by the company.

Stryker announced at the 2026 American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting in Seattle that it is launching Prophecy Surgical Planning for the Incompass Total Ankle System and introducing Hoffmann LRF smartHEX. Prophecy Surgical Planning, which has supported patient-specific planning for more than 100,000 ankle cases over 14 years, is now available with the Incompass Total Ankle System, giving surgeons access to 3D visualization and both resect-through and pin-through fixation options within a single connected platform. The Incompass Total Ankle System was created using insights generated through Prophecy and SOMA, Stryker Orthopaedic Modeling and Analytics, incorporating real-world anatomy and surgical planning into the implant design. Hoffmann LRF smartHEX expands Stryker's limb reconstruction portfolio with new rings, struts and frame components along with a mobile app and reimagined planning software designed to enhance frame versatility and support connected care. Adam Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Stryker's Foot & Ankle business, said bringing Prophecy to Incompass combines patient-specific planning with the company's newest total ankle system, helping surgeons make more informed decisions before they enter the operating room. Attendees can experience both technologies and Stryker's full Foot & Ankle portfolio at AOFAS 2026, booth #601.

Milestone Scientific Inc. announced that Sudhir Rao, M.D., Medical Director of Pain and Spine Specialists, and Pain and Spine Specialists have joined the company as a development partner and member of its CompuFlo Advisor Program. Pain and Spine Specialists is a multi-state interventional pain management organization with 22 locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida. The practice's footprint aligns with two strategically important Medicare Administrative Contractor regions for Milestone: its Maryland and Pennsylvania presence falls within Medicare Jurisdiction L, administered by Novitas Solutions, while its Florida locations fall within Medicare Jurisdiction N, administered by First Coast Service Options. As a development partner, Dr. Rao and his team will provide feedback on clinical workflows, product functionality, physician and staff experience, training, future applications and ongoing product development. Milestone said the relationship is expected to contribute real-world clinical experience and physician engagement as it pursues its longer-term reimbursement strategy, including its journey toward establishing Category I CPT status for objective epidural confirmation.