AT THIS HOUR

11: The number of professional cardiology societies that jointly updated guidelines that call for earlier cholesterol screening and more aggressive treatment to help reduce poor outcomes, though some have concerns the guidelines could increase unnecessary diagnostics. But will the people comply - will the guidelines change behavior of people accustomed to a certain diet, alcohol? The American Heart Association and the College of Cardiology both hope for changes - emphasizing primordial and primary prevention through lifetime lipid management, including universal lipoprotein testing which is a newer way to calculate cardiovascular risk and lower LDL cholesterol targets. Overall, they urge assessing and addressing high cholesterol as early as age 30 instead of waiting until 40, as has been previously recommended. The guidelines also stress healthy lifestyle habits, but earlier use of lipid-lowering medications such as statins. One concern among some cardiologists and payers is that these guidelines may end up increasing unnecessary calcium CT scan test and stress tests.

Science: Depression screening support for pregnant moms and post-partem is part of a new wave of insurance coverage for doulas.

Sport: Betting on games is front and center this month amidst March Madness basketball...how the public handles it here.

Policy: A new policy from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services will provide coverage for functional and behavioral modification lifestyle providers.

Perspective: If only medical instructions were delivered courtesy of the Peaky Blinders.

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