The estate of an urologist agreed to settle allegations he submitted false claims related to lithotripsy procedures, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the middle district of Florida.

Prior to leaving office on Jan. 20, former President Donald Trump granted a pardon for a New Jersey surgeon who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice during an investigation of his billing practices, according to a report in the Courier Post.

Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based Ambulatory Surgery Center of Niagara is seeking permanent certification, Buffalo Business First reported Jan. 18.

The Williamson County, Tenn., board of commissioners passed a resolution opposing state legislation to revise certificate-of-need laws, the Williamson Herald reported Jan. 11.

The most recent stimulus bill included multiple changes that will affect physician pay and practices going forward, according to a report in Medscape.

The average salary for medical coding professionals varies by location, practice setting and credential.

With the new calendar year, several CMS changes took effect, with more on the way. Here's a roundup of changes CMS made or will make in 2021: 

Medicare reimbursement for orthopedic arthroscopic surgery declined from 2000 to 2019, according to a study published in The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.

EHR and practice management software company Simplify ASC purchased PhyBus Revenue Services, according to a Jan. 7 news release.

Health insurers continued to make news as 2020 came to a close and the new year began.

HHS issued two rules on value-based care arrangements recently that will affect orthopedic surgeons and ASCs.

The number of uninsured Americans remains a big challenge for the country and could cause problems for ASCs this year.

Three Tennessee spine care providers will pay nearly $2 million to resolve improper billing claims for electro-acupuncture.

UnitedHealthcare did not renew its in-network contract with Envision Healthcare for 2021, according to a Dec. 31 news release.

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court allowed Los Angeles-based Beverly Oaks Physicians Surgery Center to seek unpaid claims from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, reversing a decision from a district court, according to a Dec. 17 court filing.

Congress is expected to pass legislation around surprise medical billing in its COVID-19 year-end relief package, The Hill reported Dec. 20.

Salary represents a much higher portion of income among hospital-employed physicians than it does for physicians in single- and multispecialty practice, according to research published in December by the American Medical Association.

Salary and compensation based on productivity were the two most common payment methods for physicians in 2018, according to research published in December by the American Medical Association.

Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group published research Dec. 10 examining the savings that could result from performing joint replacements in ASCs instead of hospital inpatient settings.

Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group on Dec. 10 published new research touting the major advantages of moving routine joint replacements from hospitals to ASCs.