A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives would amend aspects of the Affordable Care Act passed to ease the ban on physician-owned hospitals.

Physician autonomy is top of mind for Vladimir Sinkov, MD, founder and CEO of Las Vegas-based Sinkov Spine Center. 

Even before inflation and the finalized pay cut for 2024 are factored in, Medicare physician payment has effectively declined 26% since 2001, according to the American Medical Association.

Physicians are losing autonomy as the workforce flocks to employed models. 

Operating independently is becoming increasingly difficult, and many leaders feel that having strong leadership and management is the key to maintaining viability. 

Physician leaders are frustrated and concerned about CMS' proposal for a 2.8% conversion factor reduction to its physician fee schedule for 2025. 

Advances in technology and the cost effectiveness of ASCs have made them a fast-growing market.

During a featured session at Becker's 21st Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC +The Future of Spine Conference, Reid Zeising, founder and CEO of Gain, discussed the company's mission, payer trends and complex claims. 

During a featured session at Becker's 21st Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC +The Future of Spine Conference, Brett Spark, president of Aroris Health, discussed challenges and opportunities in payer contracting for ASCs.

As practice costs skyrocket and reimbursements continue to sink, physicians are angered at CMS' proposal to cut physician pay by 2.8%. 

Although the ASC industry is largely fragmented, independence is becoming increasingly difficult as practice costs soar and healthcare consolidates. 

CMS proposed a 2.8% conversion factor reduction to its physician fee schedule for 2025 July 10. 

Debbie Aizenberg, MD, is the new CMO of UC Davis’ ambulatory clinical care services in Sacramento, Calif. 

Themes that were present throughout 2023 such as artificial intelligence, provider satisfaction, and market pressures will continue to drive how practices and providers operate in 2024. Anticipating their impact and taking advantage of them may distinguish the most successful practices in the new year and beyond.

 As physicians face high inflation rates and skyrocketing practice costs, many feel Medicare pay is insufficient. 

Independent ASCs are facing major obstacles amid increasing healthcare consolidation and shifting payer behavior. 

Here are five leadership moves in 2024 by former or current employees of Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health:

The three highest-paid executives of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare saw a rise in both base salary and total compensation.

The highest-paid executives of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, saw a base salary jump but a total compensation decline.

ASCs and hospitals in many markets have a complicated relationship, with some hospitals opposing surgery centers despite looking to invest in their own centers.