Author: Patsy Newitt

Cardiology’s shift to the outpatient setting is accelerating, but leaders say anesthesia capacity could become a limiting factor as more complex procedures move beyond the hospital. In its 2026 final rule published Nov. 21, CMS approved four cardiovascular codes for…

Stool DNA testing climbed sharply after the pandemic began while colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical test use fell, a study of nearly 25 million privately insured Blue Cross Blue Shield beneficiaries found.  The study was published Oct. 21 in JAMA Network…

There were 963 closed healthcare M&A transactions in fiscal 2025, down from 1,163 in  2024, a continued “normalization” from post-pandemic peaks, according to a Jan. 14 report from PCE Investment Bankers.  Here are seven more things to know from the…

As hospitals and ASCs grapple with persistent anesthesia workforce shortages, issues with “wasted coverage” are emerging alongside them, according to Megan Friedman, DO, chair and medical director at Los Angeles-based Pacific Coast Anesthesia Consultants. Dr. Friedman joined Becker’s to discuss…

Lafayette, La.-based Priority Hospital Group, three of its managed long-term care hospitals and a physician are facing allegations of violations of the False Claims Act tied to medically unnecessary care and improper patient referrals, according to a Jan. 21 news…

Fee-for-service Medicare payments per beneficiary receiving care at ASCs rose sharply over the past year, increasing 13.1% from 2023 to 2024, according to MedPAC Medicare carrier claims data published Jan. 15. Here are fee-for-service Medicare payments per beneficiary receiving ASC…

This is a bimonthly column by Andrew Lovewell, CEO of Columbia (Mo.) Orthopedic Group. This is the first installment. Orthopedics has never been busier. Volumes are up, access points are expanding and most organizations can point to year-over-year growth in…

ASCs are feeling the nurse shortage acutely as they compete with hospitals and health systems for a shrinking pool of RNs and surgical techs, driving up labor costs and straining operations. “The most significant financial challenge is keeping up with…

Stark law enforcement is intensifying as the Justice Department recovered a record $6.8 billion under the False Claims Act and regulators continue refining key exceptions that shape how physicians structure financial relationships. Here are eight developments to watch this year.…

Office-based endoscopy procedures would see an average 16% increase in Medicare payment in 2026, while ASCs and hospital outpatient departments would face an average 8% cut, according to a report from the American College of Gastroenterology. Here’s a breakdown of…