In a new ranking, Wallethub named Carmel, Ind., the best small city to live in for its low unemployment rate, low rent costs and high median annual household income, among other factors. 

Hoang Ho, MD, will be closing her private practice in Allen, Texas, and joining the Baylor Scott & White Family Medicine Clinic, according to a notice on the practice's website.

 From commercial payers to physician organizations, six physician leaders joined Becker's to discuss the healthcare power players they are watching. 

 Physician autonomy has become a core concern as the workforce faces growing consolidation, with large healthcare systems, corporate entities and insurance companies increasingly influencing clinical decision-making and operational practices.

The nature of the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) is to provide efficient, high-quality  surgical care while promoting financial sustainability.

Here are three key disruptors that are making physicians nervous:

As physician practices and ASCs face rising costs and declining reimbursements, many are forced to shutter — Becker's has reported on five ASC closures so far in 2024. 

The ASC industry is historically fragmented, but slowly consolidating as practice costs soar. 

Family medicine physician Gustaco Villarreal, MD, will close his practice in Laredo, Texas, on Nov. 1, Laredo Morning Times reported Sept. 20. 

Five ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss the future of ASCs. 

From site-neutral payment reform to consolidation, four ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss the market trends shaping the ASC industry. 

OptumCare, based in Basking Ridge, N.J., is set to lay off 160 employees, according to a WARN notice posted on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website. 

Hospitals continue to look to ASCs for growth opportunities as they face mounting financial pressures and struggle to maintain operating margins."

Employed physicians have reported higher levels of burnout, anger and anxiety compared to independent physicians, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

More than half of independent physicians said mergers and acquisitions have negatively affected their job satisfaction, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

More independent and older physicians reported experiencing a reduction in income in the last year than employed physicians, according to a recent Physicians Foundation survey. 

The sentencing for an Raynaldo Ortiz Jr., MD, a former anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas who is accused of tampering with IV bags, has been delayed for the fourth time, CBS News Texas reported Sept. 18. 

The New York state budget for 2024 to 2025 includes new legal requirements for physician billing, The National Law Review reported Sept. 13. 

ASCs in many regions are facing increased patient volume and demand for care while margins remain tight and staff shortages loom.

Many leaders feel physician pay is not keeping up with the rising cost of practice, and CMS and other payer moves indicate this trend could continue.