May 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
10 most expensive states for physicians to live in
Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "2021 Consumer Expenditures Survey," the most recent data provided by the organization.
UnitedHealthcare to cut prior authorization usage by 20%
UnitedHealthcare plans to cut back on its use of prior authorization, removing procedures and medical devices from its list of services requiring signoff and reducing the number of authorizations from 13 million to 10 million annually, according to a March 29 report from The Wall Street Journal.
Physician vs. healthcare CEO pay: 5 notes
Here are five stats to know about how physician pay stacks up compared to CEO pay:
What the ASC industry will look like in the next 10 years
Three industry leaders joined Becker's to discuss what the ASC industry will look like for the next decade.
5 numbers making gastroenterologists nervous
Here are five statistics gastroenterology leaders should keep an eye on:
Is CMS pushing procedures away from ASCs? 5 moves to know
From its reversal on the inpatient only list to removing procedures from the ASC-approved list, CMS seemingly has been erratic with its ASC policies.
Hospitals are ending services — here’s how ‘the ASC industry is reshaping itself’
While hospitals continue to close service lines, a window of opportunity appears to be opening for ASCs.
Why don’t private practice physicians have more power in healthcare?
Private practice physicians are struggling as the physician workforce increasingly migrates to employed models.
ASC Management
UnitedHealthcare to cut prior authorization usage by 20%
UnitedHealthcare plans to cut back on its use of prior authorization, removing procedures and medical devices from its list of services requiring signoff and reducing the number of authorizations from 13 million to 10 million annually, according to a March 29 report from The Wall Street Journal.
Is CMS pushing procedures away from ASCs? 5 moves to know
From its reversal on the inpatient only list to removing procedures from the ASC-approved list, CMS seemingly has been erratic with its ASC policies.
10 most expensive states for physicians to live in
Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "2021 Consumer Expenditures Survey," the most recent data provided by the organization.
SCA Health names new CEO
SCA Health's CEO Caitlin Zulla has been promoted to CEO of Optum Health's east region, according to a March 10 statement.
AmSurg ASCs have new deal with Aetna
AmSurg's more than 250 surgery centers are now in-network with Aetna after Envision Healthcare signed a multiyear deal with the insurer.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Why don’t private practice physicians have more power in healthcare?
Private practice physicians are struggling as the physician workforce increasingly migrates to employed models.
The healthcare trends scaring physicians
From consolidation to physician shortages, seven physicians recently spoke with Becker's to discuss the healthcare trends they're wary of in 2023.
What the ASC industry will look like in the next 10 years
Three industry leaders joined Becker's to discuss what the ASC industry will look like for the next decade.
How ASC financial strategy is shifting
From investment strategy to supply chain strategizing, two ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss how their financial strategy has shifted in the last year.
What will disrupt the ASC industry next?
From supply chain issues to consolidation, four ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what the industry's next disruptors will look like.
ORTHOPEDICS
Why 2 orthopedic leaders prefer avoiding private equity
Many orthopedic and spine practices have weighed the decision of either taking private equity investment to support themselves or seeking other avenues to remain independent.
Dr. Brian Fiani joins Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics and Spine Specialists
Brian Fiani, DO, joined Troy, Mich.-based Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedics and Spine Specialists in his home state after spending years practicing in California and New York.
Rothman Orthopaedics’ CEO exits
Christopher Olivia, MD, is leaving his post as CEO of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, effective immediately, according to a statement shared with Becker's March 30.
Spine surgeon convicted for accepting $300K+ in kickbacks
Another spine surgeon was convicted of accepting bribes for performing surgeries at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, Calif.
Geisinger Medical Center performs 1st lumbar spinal fusion with ‘lifetime guarantee’
Edward DelSole, MD, has performed the first lumbar spinal fusion surgery with a lifetime guarantee at Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Community Medical Center.
GASTROENTROLOGY
What’s causing gastroenterology’s workforce shortage?
The increased demand for gastroenterology services combined with the limited number of gastroenterologists has caused trouble for the industry's workforce.
Payers may unintentionally be driving independent gastroenterologists to hospitals
Though payers have been trying to push more procedures out of hospitals, low reimbursements have the potential to cause these efforts to backfire by pushing independent physicians, including gastroenterologists, to migrate to hospital settings.
United Digestive taps Kohlberg & Company as new private equity partne
United Digestive has partnered with private equity firm Kohlberg & Company.
Why blood tests could be the future of colorectal cancer screening
Blood-based biomarker tests for colorectal cancer could soon be cleared by U.S. regulators, opening the doors to a new, more convenient way to screen for the disease, according to an April 5 Medscape article.
‘Patients should flee from UnitedHealthcare’ amid changes to prior authorization, says 1 gastroenterologist
UnitedHealthcare, an insurer of 45 million patients worldwide, has announced changes to its prior authorization requirements for gastroenterology care, set to take effect June 1.
TRANSACTIONS
The Costco-ing of medicine’: Will consolidation take individuality out of physician care?
More than 108,700 physicians shifted to employment from 2019 to 2021, according to an April report from Avalere, and some leaders are concerned about how this is shifting care delivery.
Walgreens acquires 30-location physician group
VillageMD, a company majority owned by Walgreens, has acquired a 30-location physician group.
Tenet’s default ‘B+’ rating affirmed: What ASCs need to know
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, had its default rating affirmed at "B+," Fitch Ratings said March 27.
Connecticut physician group acquired by VillageMD planning new medical center
Rocky Hill, Conn.-based Starling Physicians and Chimera Holdings is planning to build a new office suite medical center, Hartford Business Journal reported April 5.
These ASCs are the most likely to consolidate
Becker's was joined by 32 leaders who discussed the increasing consolidation of the ASC industry.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Ascension Wisconsin restructures exec team
Ascension is restructuring the leadership team for its Wisconsin market and parting ways with several top leaders, the St. Louis-based system said March 21.
How did 2,800 nurses with fake degrees pass the NCLEX?
The dust is settling on the national nursing degree scheme, but many questions still linger, with the most pressing being: Who are these nurses, and where are they practicing? As investigations continue and disciplinary actions are taken, another intriguing question has emerged: How were so many nurses able to pass the National Council Licensure Examination?
20 hospitals with smallest CEO-to-worker pay ratios
CEO pay at large has been a target of criticism by workers in recent months, including physicians and travel nurses, and the issue has surfaced as healthcare professionals negotiate their own pay.
Layoffs loom for CommonSpirit
CommonSpirit Health said it is "taking steps to improve efficiency and effectiveness" amid financial challenges, which may include changes that affect jobs.
What will health systems prioritize once Gen Z is running them?
Generation Z is inheriting a troubled healthcare system: staffing shortages, caregiver burnout, pandemic aftershocks, financial woes. But these industry challenges are not scaring young people away from healthcare — they're motivating them to run toward it.