Becker’s ASC

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center violated a state rule barring defense lawyers from privately communicating with a patient’s treating physicians, including physicians who no longer work for the hospital, according to a…

Noncompetes, poached surgeons and practice sales drove some of the year’s most-watched legal fights over physicians, practices and pay.  Here are 12 cases Becker’s covered in 2026 and where they stand now. 1. Ellis Medicine v. St. Peter’s Health Partners…

All 10 of the highest-volume ASC procedures would be paid less by Medicare in 2027 under CMS’ proposed outpatient payment rule, even though the agency proposed a 2.4% average rate increase for ASCs. CMS released the proposed rule July 2.…

Aitkin, Minn.-based Riverwood Healthcare Center has promoted Dan Schletty to chief ambulatory officer, elevating its director of ambulatory services to the C-suite. Mr. Schletty will lead strategy for Riverwood’s ambulatory and outpatient services. He will work with clinical and operational…

Alexios Apazidis, MD, a Deer Park, N.Y.-based spine surgeon, is now cooperating with the law firm that sued him in several racketeering cases, Newsday reported Oct. 22. Dr. Apazidis has been accused of filing dozens of nearly identical operative reports.…

Lafayette, La.-based Our Lady of Lourdes Health closed Lafayette Surgicare, an outpatient surgery center on its campus, The Advocate reported Oct. 24. A Lourdes spokesperson said the system closed the center to drive efficiency and optimize surgical capacity across the…

HealthSpan Partners, an affiliate of Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, signed a definitive agreement Oct. 26 to acquire Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners. The all-cash deal values Surgery Partners at about $5.7 billion including debt, according to a news release shared…

Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Ill., is under review by the Illinois Department of Public Health to determine whether it can keep its level 2 trauma center designation after its contracted anesthesia group suspended services over a missed payment,…