Here are seven updates:
California ASCs get final approval for $9.5M United Health suit
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted final approval for a settlement with United Health Services, which will give $9.5 million to 270 California ambulatory surgery centers. The class action claimed United Healthcare and several of its corporate subsidiaries, including Optum, failed to properly calculate the reasonable and customary amounts for out-of-network ASCs.
SCA, SwiftPath partner to offer outpatient joint replacement support services
Surgical Care Affiliates and SwiftPath partnered to offer outpatient hip and knee replacements support services. Through the partnership, SwiftPath will add SCA Senior Vice President Goran Dragolovic and SCA Group Vice President of Development Tim Buono to its board of directors.
Anesthesiologist to serve prison sentence for unlawfully distributing controlled substances, fraud
An anesthesiologist was sentenced to 100 months in prison in federal court in Louisville, Ky., for his role in the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, including the prescription opioid hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose, and related crimes.
CMS says MACRA will not disproportionably penalize small practices
In a hearing last week, Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt said small practices can succeed just as much as larger practices in regard to CMS' Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. CMS initially estimated most clinicians in groups of 24 or less will endure a penalty in 2019. Mr. Slavitt is claiming that figure is not indicative of the reality and CMS will help small practices so they can succeed in obtaining bonuses.
Mid-Valley Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery sustains major fire damage
The Mid-Valley Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery in Salem, Ore., has sustained significant damage due to a recent fire. There were no injuries due to the fire. However, it may not be possible to recover the building.
Pfizer acquires Anacor for $5.2B
Pfizer and Anacor Pharmaceuticals entered into a definitive merger agreement in which Pfizer will acquire Anacor for nearly $5.2 billion. Pfizer projects to complete the acquisition in the third quarter of 2016.
MedBridge launches medical tourism company
MedBridge, an ambulatory surgery center development, management and billing services provider, launched a new company in the medical tourism industry called Kinese. Kinese is a surgical concierge service, which offers patients access to surgical care and luxurious hospitality accommodations in Beverly Hills, Calif., San Francisco and Santa Barbara, Calif.
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