Patsy Newitt

Private practice physicians are facing mounting challenges threatening financial stability and ability to provide care. 

The former CEO of a hospital in Rockdale, Texas, has agreed to pay more than $5.3 million to resolve allegations of paying kickbacks to physicians for laboratory referrals. 

Here are five major transactions in the third quarter significantly reshaping the ASC industry, reflecting broader trends in consolidation and strategic partnerships. 

Independent physicians and ASC operators are closely monitoring the ongoing wave of hospital sales and market consolidation, amid the potential for reduced competition, rising costs and limited referral networks. 

San Diego-based lab company Precision Toxicology, operating as Precision Diagnostics, agreed to pay $27 million to resolve allegations it submitted false claims for medically unnecessary urine drug tests and provided free items to physicians who referred expensive laboratory testing business…

The five best small cities for education and health are in Massachusetts, according to a new ranking from Wallethub.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has completed another hospital sale as it continues to look to its ASC arm, United Surgical Partners International, to drive growth. 

As hospitals continue to shutter services, ASCs could see an influx in patients who have lost access to services through providers at hospitals or HOPDs. 

Brookline, Mass.-based First Psychiatric Planners, operating as Bournewood Health Systems and Bournewood Hospital, has agreed to pay between $5.5 million and $6.5 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by way of patient kickbacks.

Migrating procedures to the ASC setting has the potential to save patients, payers and healthcare money.