Healthcare bankruptcies have been spiking as debt levels and interest rates rise. 

Massachusetts was named the best state to live in, propelled by its healthcare system and education quality, according to Wallethub's 2024 Best States To Live In, published Aug. 12.

Stolen data from New York City-based ASC Gramercy Surgery Center has been leaked on the dark web following a patient data breach, according to an Aug. 10 report from DataBreaches.net. 

A physician in Tulsa, Okla., agreed to pay $619,994 to settle false claims allegations 

United Surgical Partners International, AmSurg and SCA Health are the largest ASC chains in the U.S.

The independent healthcare market has become increasingly cutthroat amid declining reimbursements, rising costs and increasing consolidation industrywide — making it significantly more difficult for private practice physicians to stay afloat.

Here are 8 lawsuits involving kickback allegations cases since July 17 as reported by Becker's: 

Seven in 10 nurse practitioners report feeling burned out or depressed in 2024, according to Medscape's 2024 "Nurse Practitioner Burnout & Depression Report," published Aug. 9. 

A Silver Spring, Md., physician was sentenced to 24 years in prison after sexually assaulting two patients during routine medical exams, WTOP reported Aug. 8. 

More hospitals are shuttering services and facing financial challenges amid soaring costs and declining reimbursements. 

From cardiology to gastroenterology leaders, here are nine prominent clinicians who have retired in 2024: 

ASCs throughout the U.S. face skyrocketing operational costs alongside declining reimbursements from payers. 

An Erie, Pa.-woman accused of embezzling over $100,000 from the eye physician she once worked for has waived her criminal case to court, Erie Times-News reported Aug. 8. 

Here are 10 hospitals, physician practices and health facilities that have announced plans to close, according to Becker's reported between July 30 and Aug. 8:

John Rex, CEO of UnitedHealth, was named the 10th highest paid CFO in the U.S., according to a report from The CFO Club. As such, he is also the highest-paid CFO in healthcare.

Jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 3 fell from the previous week to at 233,000, the lowest total in four weeks, according to an Aug. 8 report from Forbes.

Ocala-based Surgery Center of Mid Florida experienced a data security event earlier this year that may have compromised patient information. 

Firefighters have discovered the body of a man after putting out a fire at a Phoenix-based medical office building, according to an Aug. 7 report from local NBC affiliate 12 News. 

The owner of a medical supply company in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to pay $224,620 to resolve allegations he participated in a kickback scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment.

Thomas Andrew Webster, MD, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for conspiring to accept kickbacks through a fraudulent medical supply scheme.