Editor's Note Hospital-employed physicians are least likely and private equity (PE)-affiliated physicians most likely to provide care in lower-cost ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) or offices, according to a study published July 24 in the Journal of Market Access & Health Policy These care site differences translate to substantial variation in…

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Editor's Note CMS is boosting 2026 Medicare outpatient payments by 2.4%, but provider groups warn the increase barely scratches the surface of mounting financial strain. Alongside the payment bump, the agency is proposing a two-track physician reimbursement model that ties rates to value-based care participation. While some see these moves…

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Editor's Note Private equity ownership drives up colonoscopy prices without delivering better patient outcomes, according to a large retrospective analysis. While independent and private equity-acquired gastroenterology practices show no significant difference in quality, prices at private equity practices rose sharply, especially in highly consolidated markets. The study, published in JAMA…

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Editor's Note Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continue to offer significant cost savings over hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), but payment inequities, regulatory constraints, and growing competitive pressures are straining operations and growth prospects. Recent data show wide cost differentials between settings, Becker’s ASC Review June 20 reports. A Blue Health Intelligence…

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Editor's Note Hospitals are ramping up in-house pharmacy operations to boost revenue and improve care, but high US manufacturing costs continue to stall a broader federal effort to reshore drug production, Modern Healthcare June 5 reports. As detailed in the article, an aging, medically complex population is driving demand for…

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Editor's Note Surgeons across top US health systems are swapping traditional monitors and even robotic systems for augmented reality (AR) headsets, which are streamlining procedures, enhancing precision, and slashing costs, Modern Healthcare May 27 reports. As detailed in the article, AR headsets are rapidly emerging as valuable surgical tools. From…

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Editor's Note Washington, New Hampshire, and Oregon lead the nation as the best states for nurses in 2025, offering a compelling mix of high pay, strong job growth, and supportive work environments, according to an April 29 report from WalletHub. The rankings, based on 20 key metrics, highlight significant disparities…

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Editor's Note Terry A. Bohlke, MSHA, CPA, CMA, CASC, emphasized that Rocky Mountain High Surgery Center is a pseudonym “to protect the innocent,” but the numbers he presented at the 2025 Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Conference & Expo in Denver last week were real enough. Based on actual scenarios…

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Editor's Note New research shows bariatric surgery may offer better outcomes and lower overall spending than lifestyle changes for patients with cirrhosis, especially mild cases, Medscape reported April 9. The article focuses on a study published in Jama Surgery detailing both the survival benefits and long-term cost-effectiveness for patients with…

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Editor's Note HST Pathways’ most recent industry report, discussed on the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast by HST CEO David Thawley and Bill Prentice, CEO of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), offers insights into cardiology and orthopedic procedures done in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in 2024, Ambulatory Surgery Center News…

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