Patsy Newitt

A Texas man has been charged in a $60 million scheme in which he allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary products and services. 

Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, is eyeing the acquisition of the physician-owned Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic, according to a Dec. 28 notice from the Oregon Health Authority. 

Here are five key statistics that are shaping the ASC industry this year:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have banned all noncompetes, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 23.

ASCs, physician groups and hospitals can provide non-monetary compensation to physicians up to an amount of $507 for the calendar year 2024, according to a Dec. 27 Lexology report. 

Nearly 10 million workers received a raise after minimum wage increases went into effect for 22 states on Jan. 1, according to a recent analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. 

Here are five new ASCs opened or announced in December:

Two Florida siblings have been arrested and charged for their alleged role in a Medicare fraud scheme using claims for durable medical equipment. 

Two Miami men were sentenced for a multistate scheme that used rural hospitals to bill for medically unnecessary urine drug testing. 

Four anesthesia practices are suing CMS and HHS, among other parties, alleging CMS' methodology for calculating reimbursements is illegal in its inclusion of costs associated with nonphysician practitioners.