Guidelines for endoscopy by nonphysicians issued by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recognize that properly trained nonphysician endoscopists are a less costly alternative to physicians. But the society also recognizes that the training of nonphysicians — including nurse practitioners,…
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As lobbying intensifies, momentum is building to provide a five-year reprieve that would block a 21-percent fee cut to physicians who treat Medicare patients. If no legislative action is taken this month, the physician pay cut is set to go…
In an office setting, it is unlikely that there are building-wide safeguards as rigorous as in a hospital, according to the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. For example, the building may not provide any source of back-up electrical power and only…
Optometrists in West Virginia are hoping new bill is the state legislature will allow them to expand the scope of their practices, but ophthalmologists and other physician groups are arguing against the bills, according to a report in The Charleston…
Physicians in Massachusetts are now billing insurers and patients for time they spend on the phone with their patients, according to a report by the Patriot Ledger.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued Transmittal 620 to address improper payments in areas discussed in four reports released by the Office of the Inspector General.
Healthcare facilities now have 18 months to fully transition to an alternative reprocessing device from the Steris System 1 processor, according to news release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
P. Marco Fisichella, MD, of Loyola University Health System in Chicago is treating patients with conditions such as diverticulitis using a laparoscopic surgery technique, which can help patients recover faster, experience less pain and has a lower risk of infection,…
Neurosurgeon John Caruso, MD, FACS, president of Parkway Neuroscience & Spine Institute/Parkway Surgery Center in Hagerstown, Md., has been the driving force behind Parkway, an integrated treatment facility that features an ASC, imaging center and physical therapy practice that offers…
Medical device manufacturer AtriCure has agreed to pay $3.76 million to resolve civil Medicare fraud allegations that it marketed its medical devices to treat atrial fibrillation, a use not approved by the FDA, according to the U.S. Justice Department.