Here are five of Optum's most important moves and headlines that Becker's has reported on in 2024:

Residents in Montana are the most likely to be laid off, according to a study from business company Upflip based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Here are five physician fraud lawsuits Becker's has reported on since June 10:

A physician in Kennebunk, Maine, has been convicted of illegally distributing controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydromorphone and fentanyl.

Here are seven key statistics on physician pay and practice costs:

Half of physicians have had thoughts about leaving medicine due to the growing physician shortage, according to Doximity's 2023 Physician Compensation Report.

Colon and rectal surgery is one of the lowest-paid ASC specialties, according to Doximity's  "Physician Compensation Report 2024", published May 23. 

Wisconsin was recently named the best state for physicians to practice in 2024 by Medscape, which considered factors including malpractice insurance premiums, compensation, cost of living, physician density, physician burnout rates and the percentage of insured residents. 

A physician assistant was charged with a felony for allegedly using COVID-19 pandemic funding for his personal expenses. 

Here are three moves in the outpatient space that Sugar Land, Texas-based Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has made in the last year:

A man in Fresno, Calif., was sentenced to 188 months in prison for defrauding a vulnerable physician of more than $2.7 million before his death. 

As practices nationwide continue to face provider shortages, there are ways ASCs can remain competitive when it comes to recruiting talent, according to seven leaders who spoke with Becker's. 

A law requiring businesses — including certain health systems and practices —  to report who owns or has significant control over their operations went into effect in January.

CMS has made several policy changes this year that have shifted the ASC market, affecting issues such as prior authorization, reimbursement and billable procedures.

A physician from Fredericksburg, Texas, was convicted for submitting more than $70 million in fraudulent claims for orthotic braces and generic tests. 

Are you considering selling your independent MSK practice? If so, you're not alone. The healthcare industry is constantly evolving. Regulatory changes, shifting patient expectations, and declining reimbursement rates are among the top reasons independent physicians are choosing to sell their private practices. However, before making such a monumental decision, it's crucial to consider the long-term implications including the advantages of maintaining autonomy and the strategies to thrive in an ever-changing industry.

Three specialties saw pay increases or decreases of more than 10% in the last year, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report" for 2024.

Physicians are putting in more hours and working more productively than ever, but does their compensation reflect that?

Naples, Fla., is the best place to live in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report's "150 best places to live in the U.S. in 2024-25" list.

A physician in Oak Park, Ill., was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a $1.2 million Medicaid fraud scheme.