Latest news with #Riggs
Spectator
a day ago
- General
- Spectator
Does the national policing lead understand grooming gangs?
To BBC Newsnight, where DCC Becky Riggs – the national policing lead on child protection and abuse investigations – has hit back at claims by shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick about grooming gangs. Speaking on the programme, Riggs said it was 'not true' that these types of crimes are from predominantly British Pakistani men – despite acknowledging that they are 'overrepresented when you look at their share of the population'. So what is true? Well, Pakistani men are up to five times as likely to be responsible for child sex grooming offences than the general population, according to figures from the Hydrant Programme, which investigates child sex abuse. Around one in 73 Muslim men over 16 have been prosecuted for 'group-localised child sexual exploitation' in Rotherham, research by academics from the universities of Reading and Chichester has revealed. 'All of these issues need tackling,' Riggs added, insisting: 'I'm not here to lessen any of this type of offending in the slightest.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medicare Boosts Reimbursement for Oncocyte's Flagship Technology
New price of $2,753 for the GraftAssureCore™ assay increases total addressable market size and margin opportunity Brings pricing in line with existing competitive technology Expands market appeal for prospective FDA-cleared kitted product at transplant centers IRVINE, Calif., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncocyte Corp., (Nasdaq: OCX), a diagnostics technology company, today provided a positive update on pricing for its next-generation lab-developed test (LDT), GraftAssureCore. The new reimbursement rate strengthens the company's position in the growing transplant rejection testing market and suggests potential upside to its estimated $1 billion total addressable market. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has improved its reimbursement rate to $2,753 per result. This represents an increase from the prior structure using an earlier version of the assay, which paid $2,222 for first-time testing of a patient and $1,029 for subsequent tests. GraftAssureCore1 is Oncocyte's lab-developed test (LDT), which is run at the company's CLIA-certified Nashville lab2. 'Over the past two years Oncocyte has made significant investments in improving the scalability and manufacturability of our workflow to support our kitted test program,' said CEO, Josh Riggs. 'Last fall, we transferred these improvements into our CLIA lab and submitted to MolDX3 for repricing. We are very pleased with the result.' The new rate for the optimized workflow sets a benchmark that can be used to establish a reimbursement pathway for its future kitted test, GraftAssureDx, which the company expects to submit for FDA review by the end of this year. This process, known as 'bridging,' would allow other labs, upon receipt of FDA marketing authorization by Oncocyte, to purchase the Oncocyte kits to perform the test themselves and bill Medicare at the same rate. 'We believe this new price reflects the value that our technology brings to the transplant community,' continued Mr. Riggs. 'Once we receive FDA authorization, the ability to run the test clinically and bill Medicare directly will drive much broader adoption of our technology. We look forward to providing transplant centers the opportunity to access a high-quality, FDA-cleared kit with established reimbursement.' "We are very excited about the future of our company and this technology," said Chief Science Officer Dr. Ekke Schuetz. "We believe that our activation of decentralized testing will enable broader use of dd-cfDNA, transforming it from a high-cost technology to a revenue generating solution for transplant institutions." Oncocyte provided a positive update on its FDA submission process and clinical trial in an announcement on April 30. The company noted that a Central Institutional Review Board approved its clinical trial, that final preparatory steps are underway at the first participating transplant centers, that it expects three of the top 10 U.S. transplant centers to participate in its trial, and that nearly 10% of annual U.S. transplant volume is represented in clinical trial site interest. Footnotes: (1) Oncocyte's flagship technology quantifies a molecular biomarker known as donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA). The company's scientists in Germany and the U.S. have played a critical role over the past decade in developing the science that helped establish dd-cfDNA as a trusted biomarker of transplant rejection, and the company is now commercializing that technology using a market disruptive approach. Per recent rebranding announcements, GraftAssure is becoming the umbrella brand for the company's dd-cfDNA test portfolio. The company is in the process of rebranding its VitaGraft assay (also known as VitaGraft Kidney), which is a lab developed test, under the name GraftAssureCore. For purposes of this press release, references to 'GraftAssureCore' shall be deemed to include the test previously marketed as VitaGraft. The company is also in the process of rebranding its research-use-only (RUO) test kit, GraftAssure, as 'GraftAssureIQ,' and rebranding its future in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) test kit as 'GraftAssureDx.' (2) CLIA, or the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, is a federal program overseen by CMS that ensures laboratories meet quality standards when performing diagnostic testing on human samples. (3) MolDX is a program managed by Medicare contractor Palmetto GBA (Government Benefits Administrators) that reviews molecular diagnostic tests and decides whether they should be covered and reimbursed by Medicare. About OncocyteOncocyte is a pioneering diagnostics technology company whose mission is to democratize access to novel molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes. Investors may visit for more information. GraftAssureCore™, GraftAssureIQ™, GraftAssureDx™, and VitaGraft™ are trademarks of Oncocyte Corp. Forward-Looking StatementsAny statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to, statements that contain words such as 'will,' 'believes,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'estimates,' 'may,' and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, Oncocyte's commercial progress, anticipated FDA submissions, the expectation that Oncocyte will receive FDA marketing authorization for GraftAssureDx, the belief that decentralized testing will enable broader use of dd-cfDNA, transforming it from a high-cost technology to a revenue generating solution for transplant institutions, the expectation that three of the top 10 U.S. transplant centers will participate in Oncocyte's trial, and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of Oncocyte's third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients' use of any diagnostic tests Oncocyte or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the 'Risk Factors' and other cautionary statements found in Oncocyte's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC's website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Doug FarrellLifeSci Advisors LLCdfarrell@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
NBC Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Corey Heim tells Layne Riggs: 'Calm down or else someone's going to take care of you'
Corey Heim spoke in a calm manner but his message to Layne Riggs was clear after Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. 'You're racing like a (expletive) idiot,' Heim told Riggs on pit road. 'Calm down or else someone's going to take care of you.' Heim then walked away before Riggs could offer a rebuttal. Heim, a 23XI Racing reserve driver who made his first Cup start of the season last week at Kansas, was frustrated after seeing another Truck victory go away this season. Dustin Long, Heim led on the last lap of overtime when Riggs dived low into Turn 1 and came up the track beside Heim in Turn 2. Heim spun. Riggs and Chandler Smith got by. Smith passed Riggs in Turn 3 to win the race. Riggs finished second. Heim, who led a race-high 162 laps, finished 17th. 'Just scum racing on his part,' Heim told Motor Racing Network about Riggs. 'Did it to me earlier in the race and didn't learn his lesson. I've raced him so clean throughout my years. I just continuously get used up by him.' Heim later told FS1: 'I got really loose into (Turn) 3 (on the previous lap). We struggled being loose on the short runs and he had an opportunity to wreck me.' Riggs told MRN: 'We're green-white-checkered racing at North Wilkesboro at the end. I wasn't going to get to him at all. He had the race won. Coming to the white (flag), we went down to (Turns) 3 and 4 and he got really free getting into 3 and opened the bottom up. I drove up under him. 'We got side-by-side on the frontstretch. I dove it in there on the bottom and tried to kind of slide job him. Didn't make it happen. It's disappointing. ... A lot of drama at short track racing. I'm out for me and my team. I want what's best for us.'
Newsweek
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Fumes Over NASCAR Truck Driver's 'Egotistical Move'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Carson Hocevar has come under fire from NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. after his comments in Kansas last weekend. Hocevar clinched the Craftsman Truck Series victory at Kansas Speedway after an intense last-lap battle with Layne Riggs. As he crossed the line to take the win, he ranted over the team radio about his rival - something which Earnhardt Jr. has not taken kindly to. During the Dale Jr. Download podcast, he claimed: "Riggs is older than him. Is he self-appointing himself some sort of veteran? Y'all heard that s**t. 'Man, that kid's gonna win a lot of races.' What the f**k dude? NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images "You're a kid. That was a very egotistical move. I think it's an asinine way to look at things. ...I know that Riggs is not in Cup, but in terms of ability, talent, I don't really set them too far apart. You could put Riggs in the 77 [car] and eventually get reasonable results." As well as the team radio comments, the 22-year-old flipped off Riggs. Explaining the action, Hocevar said, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports: "It was somewhat friendly, right? It was just I don't remember what I really did to be honest. No, if anything, I just wanted to remind him, really, of just like, hey, I still won, I guess. I don't know. "But at the end of the day, he did a really good job. He's super, super talented. That group built a really fast truck. I remember watching Zane [Smith] go on to win against us in that truck. "It's all harm, no foul, and I'm sure my bird is real small to just hit and contact. So, it's all friendly, and when I see him, I'm sure we'll laugh about it." Riggs also commented: "He won the race, and you know, I think he was mad at me. I think he flipped me off all the way down the frontstretch coming to the checkered, but how can you be mad when you win the race, right? "But it's all good. It's great to race with them Cup guys, and I think that just proves that I'm going to be there one day." Riggs was later disqualified from the race. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Kansas Speedway results
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Justice Allison Riggs sworn in after six-month election battle with GOP challenger
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in for an eight-year term Tuesday morning at the state Capitol, days after her Republican challenger conceded the race — capping a months-long legal battle. Justice Anita Earls, the only other Democrat on a court controlled by Republicans, administered the oath of office to Riggs in the old House chamber, where more than 100 people gathered to watch. The ceremony began shortly after 10 a.m., with Earls offering opening remarks from a podium at the center of the room. 'This journey to this point was not a normal one,' she said. But Riggs and supporters 'had the courage to come forward and be public and speak.' 'We are at a moment in our democracy where it takes everyone standing up... and standing strong,' she said. Minutes later, Riggs took the oath, ending with loud applause and standing ovations from the crowd. Riggs said a formal investiture would be next month, providing 'ample time for further celebration,' and for recognition of 'the many people who got me here, even if it takes 734 minutes,' she said, alluding to the 734-vote difference in her race. 'In the last six months of this fight, many of you thanked me for my commitment and energy in this fight. It was never an option for me to give anything less,' she said. Riggs called on voters to remember that they 'decide elections, not candidates, not political parties.' She wrapped up her remarks just before 10:30 a.m., with people in attendance crowding around her to offer congratulations and hugs. A State Board of Elections spokesperson shared with The News & Observer a certificate of election issued Tuesday in the Supreme Court race. Three Johnston County residents were all smiles Tuesday after the ceremony. 'The fight that she has had to do to stay in this thing for us is just unbelievable, remarkable,' said Pat LeGrand, first vice president of the Senior Democrats of Johnston County. LeGrand said she had two friends who were on the 65,000-person list of challenged voters. 'And they voted every year. They are good citizens. They're very active in the community, and they were trying to take away their votes. So we are just so happy that she finally won.' Eric Stewart said: 'It's about democracy. It's about democracy winning, and we don't always feel that here lately.' 'Until today,' Patti Wilson said. 'Today was wonderful. All the applause — I hope you got a recording of the applause — because that's how we feel. It's a very important battle, and the battle still continues,' she said. Riggs, appointed to the court in September 2023 by then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ran for reelection last November, facing Jefferson Griffin, a Republican N.C. Court of Appeals judge. Griffin will remain on the appeals court through 2029. Griffin and the state's Republican Party refused to concede, initially challenging ballots from more than 65,000 voters who lacked either a driver's license or Social Security number in the state's voter database. The State Board of Elections countered that the missing data was likely due to routine clerical issues, not voter misconduct. They also pointed out that all voters were required to show ID in the 2024 election, minimizing the risk of fraud. Later, the board said more than half of those voters had provided the required ID, but it hadn't appeared in an initial database pull. The challenge triggered six months of legal battles, court rulings, and appeals. On Wednesday, Griffin conceded after U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II, a Trump appointee, ruled against Griffin's efforts. Myers wrote that Griffin sought to 'change the rules of the game after it had been played,' The News & Observer previously reported. Though the ruling affirmed Riggs' win, the judge said the state could determine that these issues warrant changes for future elections. This raised the likelihood of future changes in state election laws and procedures — particularly voter ID rules for military and overseas voters and measures to prevent adult children of state residents living abroad who never resided in the state, from voting in state elections. A spokesperson for the state's board of elections previously shared with the N&O details on what some of those changes will look like. Other changes could follow. Following a separate legal dispute over State Board of Elections appointments, Republicans gained a 3–2 board majority. This followed the GOP passing a law shifting appointment power from the governor to the state auditor, and Republican Auditor Dave Boliek appointing new members after the N.C. Court of Appeals allowed the law to go into effect for now. On Wednesday, the GOP-led board appointed a new elections board director.
