Author: Francesca Mathewes

On July 15, CMS issued its proposed rule for its 2026 physician fee schedule, that included a 3.6% bump to physician payments. The policy proposal includes several updates to programs and reimbursement rates specific to anesthesia and chronic pain treatment,…

Robert Fragen, MD, an anesthesiologist and professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, has died at age 90, according to a July 29 obituary published by the Chicago Sun-Times. Dr. Fragen received his undergraduate, medical school and residency training at Indiana…

The American Medical Association is “deeply concerned” about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to remove all 16 members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.  In a July 27 letter, the AMA said the “USPSTF plays a critical,…

The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers has announced that two new members have been elected to its board of directors. According to an emailed statement shared with Becker’s, Trina Brinkley, RN, administrator of Freehold (N.J) Endoscopy Associates, and…

Here are 10 updates on moves by payers for ASCs to know in July, as reported by Becker’s: 1. UnitedHealth Group is complying with criminal and civil investigations by the Justice Department regarding its Medicare Advantage business, according to a…

Here are 10 legal, clinical and policy-related controversies shaping anesthesia so far in 2025: 1. The No Surprises Act: There have been several updates and legal controversies related to the NSA in 2025.  2. UnitedHealthcare slashes reimbursements for certified-registered nurse…

Two employees of the Ontario (Calif.) Advanced Surgery Center have been charged with interfering with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation blocking agents from arresting a man who ran inside the ASC, The Independent reported July 27. The initial incident…

The cardiology physician market in the U.S. was estimated to generate approximately $60 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 2.6% from 2023 to 2028, according to a corporate finance report released…

UnitedHealth Group is complying with criminal and civil investigations by the Justice Department regarding its Medicare Advantage business, according to a July 24 regulatory filing by the company.  Here are 7 things to know about the investigation into the nation’s…

The No Surprises Act aims to prevent surprise billing by implementing an independent dispute resolution process for payment disputes between payers and out-of-network providers. While providers win the majority of IDR resolutions, there have been several court rulings and new…