Here are seven updates:
Surgery Partners acquires Riverside Pain Physicians
Surgery Partners purchased Riverside Pain Physicians, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., and some of its affiliates from Brown Gibbons Lang. Following the transaction, Riverside will be Surgery Partner's foundation for its pain platform in the southwestern United States.
Common landscape mulch may have ignited Mid-Valley Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery fire
On May 14, a fire caused significant damage at Mid-Valley Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery in Salem, Ore. New reports show ignited mulch may have caused the fire. David C. Swiderski, DDS, MD, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, owns the facility and plans to rebuild the center.
Medicare funds depleting fast; may run out of funds by 2028
The Obama administration found Medicare's primary trust fund may run out of money as early as 2028. By 2034, the administration found Social Security will run out of funds, with both Social Security and Medicare comprising 40 percent of federal spending last year.
AMA calls for end of mandatory physician recertification despite fierce opposition
The American Medical Association's House of Delegates passed a resolution to get rid of recertification examinations, despite some officials voicing their opposition of the resolution. In response to the AMA's decision, the American Board of Medical Specialties said continuing medical education is not enough and the resolution "erodes the public's trust."
Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges 301 individuals in $900M billing scheme
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force charged 301 people for submitting fraudulent bills totaling $900 million, marking the largest nationwide healthcare fraud takedown in nine years. Of those arrested, the task force charged more than 60 with Medicare Part D drugs benefit fraud.
Joint Commission denies Virginia Mason full accreditation after discovering safety issues
The Joint Commission denied the Virginia Mason Medical Center full accreditation following a review in May, which found noncompliance with 29 standards. The accreditation announcement follows news of a possible hepatitis B exposure at the hospital affecting nearly 650 patients.
A colonoscopy is required for IBD patients once every 5 years
Netherlands-based University Medical Center Utrecht researchers found patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease only need a colonoscopy once every five years.
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