Between Cases Daily · Oct 22: PASCAL tricuspid nod, Abbott Nutrition spin, employer e-prior auth

Five big employers are backing electronic prior auth for self-funded health plans (Oct. 21). CMS and the Department of Labor say Amazon, Axon, Google, Meta and Oracle signed a statement of support. It aims to bring the electronic prior auth tools being built under the 2025 insurer pledge to self-funded employer plans. CMS cites Census data that more than 53% of Americans, over 180 million people, get coverage through self-funded employer plans. Separately, CMS's interoperability rule requires certain payers to have electronic prior auth for medical items and services starting Jan. 1, 2027. Still pending: the CY2027 physician fee schedule final rule. As of this morning, CMS's rules page lists only the July proposed rule. (CMS · CMS fee schedule rules)

FDA approved Edwards' PASCAL Precision system for tricuspid valve repair (announced Oct. 21). It's for patients with symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy who are at intermediate or greater surgical risk and whom a heart team finds suitable for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER). Edwards says that makes it the only company in the U.S. with both repair and replacement transcatheter therapies for the mitral and tricuspid valves. FDA also approved PASCAL Ace with Capture Clarity for degenerative mitral TEER. Edwards calls it the first FDA-approved TEER device with fluoroscopic indicators that confirm when the valve leaflets have been grasped. One-year CLASP IITR pivotal data will be presented at TCT. (Edwards)

Fresenius Medical Care launched its multiFiltratePRO continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) system in the U.S. (Oct. 21). FDA cleared the system on Oct. 19 and approved two matching solutions, Cienby (sodium citrate) and Calrezdy (calcium chloride). Fresenius says it's the first CKRT system and dedicated solutions package in the U.S. for on-label regional citrate anticoagulation using its Ci-Ca protocol. It's for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Built-in citrate and calcium pumps replace separate external infusion pumps, and infusion rates adjust automatically as blood and effluent flow change. The launch starts as a controlled rollout. (Fresenius Medical Care)

Abbott plans to spin off its Nutrition business as a separate public company (Oct. 21). The new company would include Similac, PediaSure, Pedialyte, Glucerna and Ensure, with about $8.5 billion in annual sales, about 16,000 employees and 14 manufacturing sites. Abbott would keep its medical devices, diagnostics and established medicines. Abbott expects to finish the tax-free separation by the end of 2027, subject to regulatory and board approvals. Nutrition keeps operating as part of Abbott until then. (Abbott)

Pfizer is cutting manufacturing jobs (Oct. 21). A spokesperson confirmed the reductions to BioSpace but didn't say how many people, which sites or when. ABC11 reports that employees at Pfizer's Rocky Mount and Sanford, N.C., plants were told about the cuts on Oct. 20. As of Oct. 21, no WARN notice had been filed with the state. (BioSpace · ABC11)

Stryker, Territory Sales Representative, Neurovascular — Denver, CO. Posted Oct. 21. Base/draw $160,000 "and may be eligible to earn commission and/or bonuses." The role drives adoption of Stryker's acute ischemic stroke portfolio and supports its hemorrhagic portfolio. Asks for "a bachelor's degree or 4 years of clinical sales experience." Medical device and OR experience preferred. 30% travel. Posting

Pfizer, Senior Oncology Account Specialist (Tivdak) — Seattle, WA. Posted Oct. 21. Base $108,600–$250,700 plus a sales incentive bonus. The territory includes Seattle, Spokane and Boise, ID. Asks for a BA/BS (or an associate's with 8+ years, or a high school diploma with 10+ years) and at least 4 years of pharma sales or 4 years of oncology HCP experience. Gynecologic oncology experience preferred. Last day to apply: Nov. 4. Posting

Johnson & Johnson MedTech (Vision Care), Senior Territory Account Manager — San Jose, CA. Posted Oct. 21. Base $81,000–$131,100 plus sales incentive eligibility. Sells ACUVUE contact lenses to eye care professionals. Asks for a bachelor's and at least 2 years of business-to-business and/or medical sales, or an equivalent mix of experience. A possible entry point for B2B sellers breaking in. Posting