From state colonoscopy changes to new malpractice legislation, here are 16 pieces of healthcare legislation physicians are watching in 2024: 

Pennsylvania has the highest number of physicians per capita out of any state at 167.55 physicians for every 100,000 residents.

Here are 12 hospitals and health systems laying off employees since July 1, as reported by Becker's:

Lawmakers continued to urge Congress to address cuts to Medicare reimbursements in a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter signed by 233 representatives Oct. 11.  

Nearly 100% of medical residents believe that the number of training hours required of them is either adequate or more than adequate, according to Medscape's 2024 "Residents Lifestyle & Happiness Report," published Oct. 18. 

Legacy Medical Group Wooburn (Ore.) Clinic will permanently close Dec. 31, The Lund Report said Oct. 15.  

Two surgeons have filed a whistleblower complaint against Corvallis, Ore.-based Samaritan Health Services, according to an Oct. 15 item in The Lund Report . 

In August, the FTC's ban on noncompete agreements was struck down by a Texas federal judge. 

More than three-quarters of U.S. rural counties are designated health professional shortage areas, and rural Americans are less likely to have insurance coverage and more likely to longer to access healthcare.

In 57% of the most serious malpractice cases, physicians reported receiving favorable outcomes due to dismissals or verdicts, according Medscape's "The Rising Price of Risk Management: Physicians and Malpractice Report 2024." 

A Houston man has been convicted of Medicare fraud in a scheme to fraudulently bill for expensive topical creams after a 10-day trial. 

As the ASC space continues to develop and respond to an increasing demand for healthcare services, these frontiers may present major opportunities for practice growth: 

Surgeons at the University of California in San Diego have now performed more than 20 minimally invasive operations using Apple Vision Pro headsets, according to an Oct. 16 report from MacRumors.

Pasco, Wa.-based nonprofit the SIlent Majority Foundation is suing Washington State University, alleging that a professor's rights were violated after she spoke critically about the COVID-19 vaccine in a roundtable discussion, Tri-City Herald reported Oct. 16. 

The Manhattan (Kan.) Surgical Center filed a criminal report after someone used a company credit card for unauthorized purchases, according to an Oct. 15 report from JCPost. 

Many physicians turn to part-time work as they cut back on hours to seek a more sustainable work-life balance. Medscape has identified the 10 best part-time jobs for physicians in a new report published Oct. 16. 

A federal court has barred two Dallas-area physicians from prescribing opioids and imposed $1.2 million in judgments for violating the Controlled Substances Act. 

Mishawaka, Ind.-based St. Joseph Health System closed its medical offices and departments in its facility due to a power outage caused by a small fire, according to an Oct. 15 report from ABC 57.

A neurosurgeon was among four charged in connection with a scheme involving nearly $100 million in fraudulent workers' compensation charges, The Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 13. 

A group of nurse practitioners has sued New York state in federal court alleging their employer has them doing the same work as physicians, but for substantially less pay.