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.…
Author: Patsy Newitt
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…
From shrinking anesthesia reimbursement to aggressive payer tactics, orthopedic groups and ASCs are heading into 2026 under mounting financial pressure. Columbia Orthopedic Group CEO Andrew Lovewell joined Becker’s to discuss the anesthesia risks, reimbursement battles and growth priorities shaping his…
Leawood, Kan.-based ASC company NueHealth announced four ASC partnerships across Missouri and New Jersey, according to a Jan. 21 news release shared with Becker’s. The new partnerships include Hackensack (N.J.) Musculoskeletal Surgery Center, St. Joseph (Mo.) Center for Outpatient Surgery,…
Gastroenterology reimbursement continues to erode under Medicare and commercial payment models, even as operating costs, staffing pressures and inflation rise. From steep long-term inflation-adjusted cuts to new 2026 ASC reductions, here are 10 data points illustrating how reimbursement trends are…
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CMS’ decision to phase out the Medicare Inpatient Only list in 2026 marks a consequential site-of-service policy that could rapidly accelerate the migration of complex procedures to outpatient settings while introducing new risks around safety, access and payer behavior. Under…
As hospitals and health systems close clinics in multiple states, physicians and ASC operators are watching closely for ripple effects on workforce stability, care continuity and outpatient demand. Here are three hospitals or health systems closing clinics since Dec. 1:…
A circuit court in West Virginia ruled that the state’s optometry board exceeded its authority by expanding optometrists’ scope of practice to include certain eyelid surgeries, WV News reported Jan. 13. The West Virginia State Medical Association and the West…
ASC leaders say payers too often treat outpatient surgery centers as “optional” sites of care, rather than essential providers that deliver hospital-level quality at a fraction of the cost. Two leaders joined Becker’s to discuss what insurers misunderstand about ASCs. …
As payers tighten the screws on anesthesia coverage, leaders say the biggest threats aren’t just lower rates — they’re new tactics that quietly strip away units, modifiers and timely payment. From eroding Medicare and Medicaid conversion factors to network narrowing…