Editor's Note The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program may soon shift from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a move that could bring tighter oversight and lasting consequences for safety-net providers, Modern Healthcare June 2 reports. The proposed transfer, part…
Editor's Note All newly certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in the US will be required to hold a doctoral degree, marking a significant shift in training standards for the profession, according to a May 3 post by James Allen, MD, on his page, “Hospital Medical Director,” also covered by Becker's…
Editor's Note Routine colonoscopy surveillance after polyp removal is safe for adults over 75 and should not be ruled out based on age alone, according to a new study from Kaiser Permanente published on May 27 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The research, conducted as part of the National Cancer…
Editor's Note Filling out OR Manager’s Career/Salary Survey may take only 15 minutes, but perioperative leaders are busy people. Recognizing that even small blocks of time may be hard to find, we’ve extended the deadline through June 27. We wouldn’t want anyone to miss a chance to help forecast what’s…
Editor's Note Independent gastroenterology (GI) practices face mounting pressures from inflation, labor shortages, and regulatory burden, but five distinct strategies offer owners a path forward, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News May 23 reports. As detailed in the article, GI practices—especially smaller ones, which make up the majority of the approximately 2,100…
Editor's Note Opening a hospital-affiliated ambulatory surgery center (ASC) can shift healthier patients out of the hospital without compromising outcomes for those who remain, according to a new study published in the Journal of the AAOS Global Research & Reviews in April 2025. The retrospective analysis from Luminis Health Anne…
Editor's Note Hospitals and health systems are all-in on ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with ownership now the rule rather than the exception, according to the 6th Avanza Intelligence Hospital Leadership ASC Survey published in 2025. The report, produced in partnership with HealthLeaders Media, shows 82% of hospitals now own at…
Editor's Note In 2025 earnings reports for the first quarter (Q1), both Surgery Partners Inc and Ardent Health Partners Inc posted solid top-line growth and reaffirmed full-year guidance, but they diverged in outpatient performance, TipRanks May 12 reports. Surgery Partners, a major operator of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), reported Q1…
Editor's Note The first study to evaluate percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in Medicare beneficiaries treated at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) found similar short-term safety outcomes as hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). As detailed in an announcement from The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), the research was presented on May…
Editor's Note At the 2025 Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) conference, discussion of legislative priorities extended beyond educational sessions. Thanks to a visit from the ranking lawmaker of the congressional subcommittee responsible for most healthcare policymaking, attendees also got first-hand insight into the latest negotiations on Capitol Hill. US Representative…