May / June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
Private equity in the ASC market—key transactions & 2018 outlook
Despite the overall lack of total growth in the ASC market, the interest of private equity in ASCs remains very significant. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Data breach at NY ASC possibly exposes 135k patient records
An unauthorized third party possibly gained access to approximately 135,000 patient records at Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter’s Surgery & Endoscopy Center Jan. 8., the Timesunion reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Pain physician charged in fraud scheme, ordered to pay $8.7M
Dover, Mass.-based pain management physician Fathallah Mashali, MD, was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay more than $8.7 million for defrauding Medicare, insurancenewsnet.com reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
ASC TURNAROUNDS
Envision suing UnitedHealthcare over a bevy of payment issues — 7 insights
Envision Healthcare alleged UnitedHealthcare unilaterally lowered contracted payments to Envision physicians and refused to add new Envision physicians to its insurance network, Axios reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
New Jersey pain specialist allegedly orchestrated $4.4M kickback scheme — 4 insights
Clifton, N.J.-based Garden State Pain Management physician Todd Koppel, MD, allegedly received 790 patient referrals and billed payers approximately $4.4 million through a kickback scheme, NJ.com reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
SSI launches analytical product for ASCs — 4 insights
Revenue cycle management company SSI launched ASC Analytics, an analytics product for ASCs. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
ASCA rebukes ‘sensationalized’ story misrepresenting ASC safety
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association rebuked a story by Kaiser Health News and USA Today saying it misrepresented the safety and quality of outpatient surgery. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
New York health system eliminating outpatient surgery due to freestanding surgery center proliferation — 5 insights
Utica, N.Y.-based Mohawk Valley Health System will no longer perform outpatient surgery at its Faxton campus, WIBX 950 reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Jury finds CRNA, North Star Anesthesia liable in man’s death, awards family $1M
A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court jury awarded the family of a deceased man $1 million, after finding a certified registered nurse anesthetist under the direction of Cincinnati-based North Star Anesthesia at least partially responsible for his death, The Vindicator reports.. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Riverside Regional Surgery Center owner, 3 others charged in $8M healthcare fraud scheme: 5 things to know
Babar Iqbal, MD, and three others were arrested yesterday on felony charges, alleging the co-conspirators were involved in an $8 million healthcare fraud scheme, according to The Press-Enterprise. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
JOINT VENTURES
10 statistics on US venture capital funding in healthcare
PwC and CB Insights published their Healthcare MoneyTree report providing an overview of U.S.-based venture capital funding in the healthcare industry for the fourth quarter of 2017. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
HHS Secretary Alex Azar commits to support changes to physician-owned hospital ban
HHS Secretary Alex Azar testified in front of the House Ways and Means Committee about the effects of the Bipartisan Budget Act on healthcare. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Regent Surgical Health, St. Francis Hospital open surgery center for complex cases — 6 highlights
Roslyn, N.Y.-based St. Francis Hospital of Catholic Health Services of Long Island partnered with Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health to open the East Hills (N.Y.) Surgery Center. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
New York health system eliminating outpatient surgery due to freestanding surgery center proliferation — 5 insights
Utica, N.Y.-based Mohawk Valley Health System will no longer perform outpatient surgery at its Faxton campus, WIBX 950 reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
10 things to know about AmSurg
Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg has been synonymous with surgery centers since Co-Founders David Manning and Rodney Lunn developed a business plan on the back of an iced tea napkin in 1986. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Health systems acquire 5k independent practices during 2015-16
Health systems are on an independent practice shopping spree. Between July 2015 and July 2016 the Physicians Advocacy Institute reports 5,000 independent practices were acquired by health systems. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
10 things to know about United Surgical Partners International
The combined network of Addison, Texas-based United Surgical Partners International and Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare includes more than 50 health systems, 4,000 physicians and 265 short-stay surgical facilities.. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
10 things to know about Surgery Partners
Headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., Surgery Partners is a leading operator of surgical and ancillary services. It touts a portfolio of 124 surgical facilities in the U.S., including 106 ASCs and 18 surgical hospitals across 32 states.. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
10 things to know about Regent Surgical Health
As one of the largest private joint venture surgery center operators, Regent Surgical Health manages a portfolio of 23 ASCs, 18 hospital joint ventures and nine total joint replacement centers in the U.S. and Europe. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Joint venture Stuart Surgery Center to open in Florida — 5 insights
Stuart, Fla.-based Martin Health System, Compass Surgical Partners and a group of physician investors will open the Stuart Surgery Center in early 2018. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
10 things to know about Surgical Care Affiliates
Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates is one of the largest ASC operators in the U.S., with a network of more than 7,500 physicians and 200 surgical facilities generating over $2 billion in total revenue. About 1 million procedures are performed in SCA facilities every year. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
ORTHOPEDICS
Orthopedic ASC, Georgia providers to pay $3.2M for False Claims Act allegations
A group of Newnan, Ga.-based orthopedic and anesthesia providers agreed to pay the federal government $3.2 million to settle allegations they were involved in a False Claims Act kickback scheme. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center plans new hospital facility
Crystal Clinic Orthopedic Centers plans to construct a new specialty orthopedic facility that will offer surgical and non-surgical care, according to Crain's Cleveland Business. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Dr. Mark Giovanini performs his 1st spine surgery with coflex in an ASC
Mark Giovanini, MD, performed his first spine surgery in an ASC with the coflex device from Paradigm Spine. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
CEO compensation for 8 spine, orthopedic device companies
CEOs of medical device company giants routinely make seven-figure salaries, with total compensation reaching even higher when bonuses and stock awards are included. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
‘An unprecedented amount of confusion’ — Orthopedic society criticizes CMS for TKA final rule
The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons recently issued a position statement on the 2018 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule that removed total knee arthroplasty from Medicare's inpatient-only list. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
6 trends for total joint replacements in the future — revision total knees to jump 400% by 2060
The number of total joint replacements is expected to jump between 2030 and 2060, according to a new report from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
The Joint Commission finalizes total hip and knee replacement performance measures — 5 insights
The Joint Commission determined four new performance measures for its Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification in collaboration with an advisory panel. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Dr. Brett Menmuir joins Laser Spine Institute — 5 quick facts
Tampa, Fla.-based Laser Spine Institute added Brett Menmuir, MD, to its team of orthopedic surgeons. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
GI/ENDOSCOPY
Staying independent — Dr. Louis Wilson’s 2 key thoughts on surviving and thriving in 2018
Wichita Falls (Texas) Gastroenterology Associates gastroenterologist and American College of Gastroenterology's Practice Management Committee Chairman Louis Wilson, MD, offered two key thoughts on where independent gastroenterology is headed and what independent GI physicians need to capitalize on to stay successful in 2018. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Medical Board of California accuses gastroenterologist of gross negligence — 10 insights
The Medical Board of California accused gastroenterologist Parminder Singh Dhaliwal, MD, of alleged gross negligence, OC Weekly reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Data breach at New York ASC possibly exposes 135k patient records — 4 insights
An unauthorized third party possibly gained access to approximately 135,000 patient records at Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter’s Surgery & Endoscopy Center Jan. 8., the Timesunion reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
Device improves Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal dysplasia detection
A study, published in United European Gastroenterology Journal, found CDx Diagnostics Wats3D increased Barrett's esophagus and esophageal dysplasia detection by more than 80 percent. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
After 9 years, Gastro Health replaces CEO — 5 things to know about new leader Joseph Garcia
Miami-based Gastro Health's longterm CEO Alexander Fernandez departed suddenly in February, and Joseph Garcia was named his replacement. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....
CT colonography colorectal cancer screening more cost-effective than colonoscopy
Due to higher participation rates, CT colonography screening for colorectal cancer is more cost-effective than colonoscopy screening, according to a study in Radiology. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....