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.…
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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…
The future of anesthesia care stands at a critical crossroads. The Department of Education’s proposed federal student loan caps for graduate and professional programs – including those for aspiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) – will soon be open for…
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…
Dallas-based Symmetry Anesthesia, a physician-led anesthesia group launched in mid-2025, has partnered with eight hospitals and hired more than 250 clinicians within its first five months of operation. The organization onboarded five hospitals during that period and attributes its early…
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…
Here are six recent updates on retail giant Walgreens and its busy year in healthcare mergers, acquisitions and regulatory conflict: 1. Beth Leonard, the former chief corporate affairs officer at Walgreens Boost Alliance was appointed senior vice president and chief…
As ASCs push into higher-acuity care, leaders say the most underestimated threat isn’t demand, it’s the widening gap between rising labor, supply and anesthesia costs and shrinking or misaligned reimbursement. Executives warn that compressed professional fees, staffing shortages and growing…