Tag: Access to care

Telehealth in limbo: Providers split on continuing Medicare services during shutdown

Editor's Note Telehealth providers are divided over whether to continue serving Medicare patients after reimbursement expired alongside the federal government shutdown, Modern Healthcare October 9 reports. The impasse has forced organizations to weigh patient access against financial risk, with many issuing advance beneficiary notices warning patients they may be responsible…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 15, 2025
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Nearly half of US physicians now work for large systems: GAO links consolidation to higher costs

Editor's Note Physician independence continues to decline as hospitals, insurers, and private equity firms expand their ownership of medical practices, according to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published on September 22. The report found that 47% of physicians were employed by or affiliated with hospital systems in 2024,…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 14, 2025
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Study: Surgical hospital closures hit vulnerable communities hardest

Editor's Note Hospitals that provide surgical care are closing faster than new ones are opening, deepening inequities in access to surgery for socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, American College of Surgeons October 3 reports. Closures not only disrupt care, but also deter many from seeking surgery altogether. Increased travel burdens and difficulty…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 14, 2025
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Spine surgeon shortage deepens as consolidation, site shifts reshape ASC markets

Editor's Note Hiring for spinal procedures are tightening and consolidation is accelerating, reshaping where and how ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) secure talent, Becker’s Spine Review October 3 reports. A mounting orthopedic shortage exceeding 5,000 by year-end is making spine one of the hardest specialties to recruit, with timelines stretching and…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 8, 2025
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New NIH-backed trial targets advance care planning for older surgical patients

Editor's Note Fewer than one in ten older adults undergoing major elective surgery complete advance care planning (ACP), but a new multisite randomized trial aims to change that. According to a September 23 article published by BMJ Open, the study design for the I CAN DO Surgical ACP trial has…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 3, 2025
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AORN: Periop patient ambassadors transform communication, outcomes in surgical care

Editor's Note Hospitals adopting perioperative patient ambassadors are seeing major gains in surgical communication, patient trust, and satisfaction, AORN August 18 reports. An EIN Presswire release on September 30 also highlights AORN’s call for hospitals to formalize the patient ambassador role as part of the surgical team. AORN notes that…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 2, 2025
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Government shutdown squeezes military medicine, halts NIH research, cuts CDC operations

Editor's Note Following yesterday’s update on the impact of the federal government shutdown on telehealth and Affordable Care Act disruptions, the shutdown is also straining military health systems, biomedical research, and disease prevention programs, creating ripple effects for patient care and surgical innovation, Politico October 1 reports. While Medicare, Medicaid,…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 2, 2025
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ACS launches hospital search tool to spotlight surgical quality

Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has launched a new online tool that helps patients and families locate hospitals recognized for delivering high-quality surgical care, according to an August 26 ACS announcement. The “Find a Hospital” tool highlights facilities that have earned ACS accreditation or verification through an…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 1, 2025
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Bariatric surgery outpaces GLP-1s in weight loss, cost savings

Editor's Note Bariatric surgery delivers greater weight loss and lower long-term costs than GLP-1 medications, Ambulatory Surgery Center News September 18 reports. A new JAMA Surgery study of more than 30,000 patients found that surgical patients lost nearly three times as much weight as those on medication while generating meaningful…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
October 1, 2025
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HFMA warns affordability crisis is driving up provider bad debt

Editor's Note According to a Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) analysis, the US healthcare system is in “serious condition,” with affordability collapsing and provider financial risk escalating, HealthLeaders September 19 reports. The group’s new Healthcare Vitals Tracker scored the industry just 35.9 out of 100, compared to a peak of…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
September 24, 2025
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