AHA study: HOPD Medicare patients are poorer, sicker, more rural than those seen in physician offices
Editor's Note Medicare patients treated in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) present with greater socioeconomic and clinical complexity than peers seen in independent physician offices, including higher prior emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient use. According to an American Hospital Association (AHA) study conducted by KNG Health Consulting and published on…
AMA urges health systems to act now on AI governance
Editor's Note Artificial intelligence use in healthcare is accelerating, and the American Medical Association (AMA) is pressing health systems to establish clear governance policies before the technology outpaces oversight. Nearly 70% of physicians reported using artificial intelligence tools in 2024, a sharp rise from 38% in 2023, AMA News Wire…
Endoscopy case highlights risks of complex patients in ASCs
Editor's Note A malpractice case involving a 69-year-old man undergoing an endoscopy at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) spotlights the risks of managing high-comorbidity patients outside a hospital setting. According to a May 13 report in Anesthesiology News, the patient experienced a hypoxic event that led to permanent brain injury…
CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…
CMS’s plan to phase out inpatient-only list could bolster rural ASCs
Editor's Note The proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to eliminate the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list over 3 years could significantly expand opportunities for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with rural facilities among those positioned to benefit most, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The…
Study finds no link between long-standing preprocedural fasting and aspiration pneumonia risk
Editor's Note Loosening fasting policies before surgery does not increase the risk of post-surgical aspiration, also known as aspiration pneumonia, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Surgery in August 2025. The researchers analyzed 17 studies published between 2016 and 2023, including randomized clinical trials and…
Medicare Advantage patients see lower perioperative costs than traditional Medicare peers
Editor's Note Surgical episodes for Medicare Advantage (MA) patients cost less and used fewer resources than those for traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries, according to a JAMA Health Forum study published August 1. Researchers analyzed 1.18 million procedures performed on 1.11 million beneficiaries and found 30-day episode costs were 3.1% lower…
Hospital-affiliated doctors drive highest costs by avoiding lower-cost sites
Editor's Note Patients treated by hospital-affiliated physicians are far less likely to receive specialty procedures in lower-cost settings, while private-equity–affiliated doctors are the most likely to steer patients toward these options, Ambulatory Surgery Center News August 12 reports. The findings come from a Mount Sinai study that examined physician affiliation,…
Imposter syndrome widespread among surgical trainees, disproportionately affects women
Editor's Note Nearly three-quarters of orthopedic surgery residents experience significant or intense imposter syndrome, with female trainees facing markedly higher risk, according to a study published April 7 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Open Access. As detailed in the study, researchers surveyed 100 residents across seven US…
Largest US healthcare fraud case reveals billions in false Medicare, Medicaid claims and vast schemes nationwide
Editor's Note The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted the largest healthcare fraud takedown in US history, charging 324 individuals, including 96 licensed medical professionals, in schemes totaling more than $14.6 billion, HealthCare Business News July 8 reports. The nationwide crackdown involved 50 federal districts and 12 state attorneys…
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