Author: Patsy Newitt

Montana health systems and hospitals are being crushed by anesthesiologist shortages, but anesthesiologists are still opposed to integrating certified registered nurse anesthetists into health systems, Billings Gazette reported Jan. 6. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee has ended its relationship with Memphis-based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and two ASCs are affected, local ABC affiliate ABC24 reported Jan. 5. 

Hospitals and health systems faced formidable margin declines in 2022 amid labor shortages, skyrocketing operating costs and declining inpatient volumes. 

The No Surprises Act, aimed to protect patients against balance billing and create cost transparency, took effect Jan. 1, 2022, and the law has shifted how many physicians and ASCs provide care. 

Medscape laid out physicians' side gigs in its 2022 "Physician Side Gigs" report. 

Here's what five ASC leaders had to say about CMS in the last year:

Great Neck, N.Y.-based gastroenterologist Morris Barnard was sentenced to 30 months in prison and must pay $1.4 million for a Medicare billing fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Jan. 5. 

Here are 12 updates in the last year about prior authorizations, one of the biggest burdens for ASC leaders. 

 Nearly 4 in 10 physicians currently have a side gig, according to the 2022 "Physician Side Gigs" report from Medscape. 

Noncompete agreements could be banned with a new proposed rule from the Federal Trade Commission.