Investors should monitor the preventative cardiac diagnostic sector, as federal policy discussions could secure Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement coverage by the end of the year. Securing standard insurance coverage is expected to expand annual Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan volumes from 1 million to roughly 40 million screenings. As a primary hardware beneficiary, Siemens (SIEGY) is positioned to capture surging demand for its high-throughput CT scanners utilized across stationary and mobile screening units. Investors can also position around this shift by targeting mobile imaging clinics and healthcare facilities scaling up preventative diagnostic infrastructure. Finally, keep private healthcare innovator Cleerly on your watchlist for a potential future IPO or private placement, given its market-leading AI radiology software for analyzing heart disease risk.

Preventative Cardiac Imaging & Diagnostic Sector

• Investor Brad Gerstner highlighted a major healthcare moonshot aimed at making Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) CT scans a standard preventative screening protocol in the United States.
  • Currently, approximately 1 million CAC scans are performed each year, compared to 40 million mammograms; the initiative aims to expand CAC scan volume to 40 million annually.
  • The scan costs roughly $100 out-of-pocket, takes about 5 to 10 minutes (with approximately 5 minutes on the scanner bed), and provides a non-invasive assessment of calcified plaque in coronary arteries.
  • Heart disease causes approximately 800,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, and Gerstner noted that widespread CAC screening could save 50,000 lives and $20 billion in healthcare expenditures every year.
• A major near-term catalyst is potential policy reform to establish insurance reimbursement.
  • Discussions are actively taking place with policymakers, the White House, and health leaders to approve diagnostic CAC scans for Medicaid and Medicare coverage by the end of the year.
  • Broad insurance coverage serves as the standard trigger for medical adoption, shifting the test into the routine standard of care.

Takeaways

• Monitor public policy decisions regarding Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement codes for preventative cardiac CT scans, as coverage approval would trigger massive volume growth for imaging centers, equipment manufacturers, and digital health providers.
• Look for investment exposure across preventative diagnostic providers, mobile imaging clinics, and healthcare systems transitioning toward lower-cost preventative care models.

Siemens (SIEGY)

• Siemens was specifically highlighted as a leading manufacturer of the standard CT scanning machinery utilized in mobile and stationary calcium CT screening units.
  • The equipment represents mature, proven diagnostic technology capable of processing high-throughput patient screenings (e.g., dozens of scans per day in mobile units).

Takeaways

• Siemens (and its dedicated healthcare subsidiary, Siemens Healthineers) stands to see heightened demand for entry-level and advanced CT imaging hardware if preventative cardiac screening scales toward nationwide adoption.

Cleerly (Private)

• Cleerly was cited as an advanced AI-driven radiology platform that operates on top of cardiac imaging, such as CT angiograms.
  • The software uses artificial intelligence to analyze scans, measure stenosis (arterial narrowing), identify soft plaques, and provide refined digital readouts of heart disease risk for patients and physicians.

Takeaways

• Track Cleerly as a key private digital health company leading the integration of AI radiology in preventative cardiology, representing a high-interest candidate for future public market entry or venture/growth investment.