Effective October 15, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a nationwide one-year probationary prior authorization (PPA) process for newly enrolled suppliers and suppliers undergoing a change of ownership. Additionally, prior authorization will be required as a condition of payment for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently released their final determinations from the First Biannual 2026 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code application meetings. The final determinations resulted in one new lower-limb code, which will be active and valid for claims with dates of service on or after October 1, 2026.

A new study developed a mineralized DNA hydrogel called “Cap-gel” that combines immune regulation with sustained bone regeneration. Using tetrahedral DNA nanostructures and calcium phosphate mineralization, researchers created a scaffold that promotes healing-friendly macrophage activity while supporting bone-forming stem cells. In animal models, the material accelerated bone repair, improved tissue mineralization, and prolonged structural stability.

A research team from Zhejiang University, Tencent Robotics X Laboratory, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has developed a walking-support robot that uses large-area tactile contact at the human torso as its main channel for physical interaction. Large-area tactile interfaces embedded in the robot’s two arms measure not only how much force is applied, but also where the contact occurs and how pressure is distributed.

Researchers at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Laser Research Centre are investigating the potential of photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as red light therapy, as a promising approach to improving diabetic wound healing. Led by Professor Nicolette Houreld from UJ’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the study examined whether near-infrared light at an 830 nm wavelength could assist in repairing wounded diabetic skin cells in a laboratory setting.

While total knee replacement is generally highly successful, up to one in five patients continue to experience pain or reduced function after surgery. Many of these poor results are thought to relate to the movement between the kneecap and the underlying knee replacement. One potential solution is kneecap resurfacing, which involves replacing the damaged underside of the kneecap with a smooth artificial surface during knee replacement surgery.

Researchers at Tampere University, Finland, have developed a 3D-printed ceramic implant material that closely mimics real human bone. The findings advance the development of personalized bone regeneration and may lead to more effective and accessible treatments for bone defects. The research led by Antonia Ressler, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Tampere Institute for Advanced Study, has successfully used hydroxyapatite, the same compound that forms the mineral structure of natural bone, to create bone-like scaffolds that support the body’s own capacity for tissue regeneration.