Author: Patsy Newitt

OptumCare, based in Basking Ridge, N.J., is set to lay off 160 employees, according to a WARN notice posted on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website. 

Hospitals continue to look to ASCs for growth opportunities as they face mounting financial pressures and struggle to maintain operating margins."

As physicians and ASCs face increasing obstacles in securing reimbursements from insurance companies, many are looking to direct-pay or cash models to cut out the need for payers. 

Employed physicians have reported higher levels of burnout, anger and anxiety compared to independent physicians, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

Here are five controversies involving ASC closures, lawsuits or false claims allegations that Becker's has reported on since Aug. 23:

More than half of independent physicians said mergers and acquisitions have negatively affected their job satisfaction, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

More independent and older physicians reported experiencing a reduction in income in the last year than employed physicians, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

An Alexandria, La.-based physician has been charged for his role in a $32.7 million Medicare fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary definitive urine drug testing services. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is looking to outpatient and ASC strategy to drive growth. 

HHS is expected to issue a final rule amending aspects of HIPAA later this year, and Bellinger Moody, chief compliance officer of Coronis Health, laid out the key aspects to know in a Sept. 4 blog post.