A large majority of physicians named healthcare access and substance abuse in their top five social issues, according to Medscape's "Physicians' Views on Today's Divisive Social Issues Report 2022." 

Syndicated Equities has acquired a medical office building in Fenton, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, for $14.4 million, REBusiness reported June 8. 

A Muskegon, Mich., physician has pleaded guilty to billing Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield for services she didn't perform, the U.S. Justice Department said June 7. 

A physician in Collinsville, Ill., admitted to illegally prescribing an anti-anxiety drug, the U.S. Justice Department said June 7. 

A multispecialty clinic with an ASC is in the works in Lakeville, Minn., Wolf Media reported June 1. 

David Kowalski, MD, a physician with Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, a physician group with ASCs that dropped out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois last year after a pay dispute, shed light on the details of the dispute and what lies ahead during a presentation at the Effingham (Ill.) County Chamber of Commerce last week.

Katie Lawrence serves as the executive director of ambulatory optimization and integration at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health Medical Group.  Ms. Lawrence will serve on the panel "The New Work-Life Balance: Best Ideas to Meet Staff and Physician Needs" at Becker's 19th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place in Chicago from June 16-18.  To learn more and register, click here.

Alan Rechter, MD, serves as an orthopedic surgeon at Houston-based Orthopaedic Associates.  Dr. Rechter will serve on the panels "What Interventional Pain Management Will Look Like in 10 Years" and "Enter a New World of Postoperative Pain Management" at Becker's 19th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place in Chicago from June 16-18.  To learn more and register, click here.

Lorraine Hutzler serves as associate program director at the Center for Quality and Patient Safety at New York City-based NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital.  Ms. Hutzler will serve on the panels "How to Make Bundled Payments, Risk-Based Pay a Win in Orthopedics" and "What it Takes to Build a World-Class Orthopedic, Spine Program" at Becker's 19th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place in Chicago from June 16-18.  To learn more and register, click here.

Eric Schnapp serves as the CEO of Memphis, Tenn.-based Mays and Schnapp Pain Clinic and Rehabilitation Center.  Mr. Schnapp will serve on the panel "ASC Management and Transactions: Big Trends for 2023" at Becker's 19th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place in Chicago from June 16-18.  To learn more and register, click here.

Many ASCs are facing increasing obstacles in the payer landscape, but ASC administrators and executives are developing strategies like direct-to-employer contracting and attracting patients to bypass them. 

Mississippi emergency room physician Kevin Crandell, MD, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and nearly $1 million in restitution, the Daily Journal said June 7.

From the next editor-in-chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to Gastro Health's newly appointed COO, here are five gastroenterologists Becker's has reported on since May 9:

Southwell Gastroenterology-Lowndes cut the ribbon on its new office and ASC in Valdosta, Ga., Valdosta Daily Times reported June 5.

Below are five ASC acquisitions, affiliations and partnerships that Becker's has covered since May 3:

Montecito Medical, a healthcare real estate company, has acquired two adjoining medical office buildings in Las Vegas. 

A Dansville, N.Y.-based physician has agreed to pay $602,662.61 to resolve allegations that he billed CMS for procedures that were never performed, WETM reported June 7. 

Four supply chain updates from the last week that ASC leaders need to know:

Sixty-five percent of providers used temporary physicians to allow for the continual treatment of patients, according to AMN Healthcare's "2022 Survey of Locum Tenens."

A hacker stole data from ASC and imaging group Shields Health Care, jeopardizing the personal information of 2 million people across 56 practices and facilities in New England.