ASC News

Less than 10 percent of ASCs are located in rural settings, and they face different challenges and setbacks than their urban counterparts. 

For physicians looking to maximize their take-home pay after taxes, Memphis, Tenn., might be the place to go. It tops the list of cities where workers bring home the most pay following federal and local taxes and cost of living…

Charlotte, N.C.-based healthcare real estate firm Flagship Healthcare Properties is becoming one of the largest owners of ASC properties in the nation, acquiring 11 ASC buildings in 2022. 

Senate Bill 94 would allow nurse practitioners to practice without a collaborating physician and bestow them more authority to prescribe controlled substances, Commonwealth Journal reported March 15. 

George Barrio, MD, has agreed to pay a $225,000 settlement for allegedly prescribing opioids and other controlled substances unlawfully, the Department of Justice reported March 14. 

Francisco Ortiz, former COO of Morgantown, W.Va.-based Wedgewood Physicians, and James Mersing, MD, have been charged for allegedly stealing $650,000 from the practice, the Justice Department reported March 14. 

Over half of physicians (64 percent) say that prior authorization has led to ineffective initial treatments for patients, according to a March 14 report from the American Medical Association that surveyed 1,001 practicing physicians. 

Justin LaMonda, MD, a physician based in Moberly, Mo., pleaded guilty to a $537,322 fraud scheme, admitting he used his father's name to falsely bill Medicare and Medicaid, the Justice Department said March 14. 

As physician shortages worsen, healthcare and ASC leaders are worried about the effect it could have on patient care. 

Physicians are dealing with burnout at record rates, brought on by a number of factors, including increased administrative burdens, inadequate support to mitigate obstacles and the "archaic" prior authorization process, according to a recent article by American Medical Association President…