Several health systems and physicians have moved to enter the ASC market in 2024. Amid growing competition, being fiscally savvy has become increasingly important in the outpatient space.
ASC News
Independent ASCs often struggle to compete with larger providers in securing lucrative contracts for reimbursements and supplies, but have a critical edge when it comes to recruitment.
A physician in the Chicago suburbs has pleaded guilty to a $2.4 million healthcare fraud scheme of billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent services.
Youngstown, Ohio, was ranked U.S. News & World Report's most affordable place to retire in 2024.
While 41% of physicians report feeling equally excited and terrified about artificial intelligence in medicine, it has important uses in the field, including performing the back-end work done by EHR software, the American Medical Association's immediate past president said.
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As interest in ASCs grows among physicians, administrators and patients, health systems, corporate entities and private equity groups are venturing into the outpatient surgery sector.
In May, Oregon became the first state in the country to officially change the title of "physician assistant" to "physician associate."
The majority of physician assistants are happy with their career choice and would choose the same profession again if given the opportunity to do it over, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Assistant Career Satisfaction Report," published June 28.
As hospitals continue to cut service lines amid thinning margins and high inflation, ASCs could have an opportunity to pick up patient volume.
The average annual salary for physician assistants increased by 4.1% between 2023 and 2024, while inflation is currently down by 19.5%.