Inflation has had serious effects across all aspects of the U.S. economy, and healthcare is no different. 

While AI enhances certain predictive analytics, the risk of over-reliance on the technology could lead to incorrect diagnosis and the erosion of the physician-patient relationship, according to Sarah Worthy, CEO of DoorSpace, a healthcare-oriented human resources consulting firm, in a blog post published by Medical Economics Oct. 9. 

San Ramon, Calif.-based Hill Physician Medical Group is expanding its physician network by partnering with Kentfield, Calif.-based Marin Health and University of California San Francisco Health, The Press Democrat reported Oct. 14. 

East Setauket, N.Y.-based Three Village Medical Care, owned by Siva Kolupoti, MD, has joined Stony Brook (N.Y.) Medicine Community Medical Group, TBR News Media reported Oct. 14. 

A San Diego physician and her medical practice have agreed to pay $3.8 million to settle allegations they knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and TriCare. 

A former physician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston is suing her former employer, alleging she was wrongfully terminated after she refused the COVID-19 vaccine, The Boston Globe reported Oct. 10. 

The most frequent cause of medical malpractice allegations against physicians is a failure to diagnose patients or a delay of diagnosis, according to Medscape's "The Rising Price of Risk Management: Physicians and Malpractice Report 2024," published Oct. 11.

Ezequiel Silva, MD, a radiologist at San Antonio-based South Texas Radiology Group and chair of the Texas Medical Association's Council on Legislation sat down with the American Medical Association to discuss Texas' gold card law and its impact on the prior authorization process. 

Among physicians surveyed in Medscape's "The Rising Price of Risk Management: Physicians and Malpractice Report 2024," published Oct. 11, 53% believe that improving physician communication with patients is the best way to discourage malpractice lawsuits.

Malpractice premiums are on the rise nationwide, according to Medscape's "The Rising Price of Risk Management: Physicians and Malpractice Report 2024," published Oct. 11. 

More hospitals are shuttering surgical services amid financial challenges amid soaring costs and declining reimbursements. 

The Department of Justice is doubling down on Stark law violations, with CMS settling a record-breaking total of $12.6 million in Stark law in 2023, a 552% increase from 2021. 

Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter Health has hired anesthesiologist Miguel Plaza-Lloret, MD, to its medical staff.

There were 57 medical malpractice verdicts of $10 million or more, with more than half of those verdicts hitting $25 million — and the legislation surrounding malpractice lawsuits and physician liability could be changing in a number of states.

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, according to an Oct. 10 Medscape report. 

Fifty-six ASC leaders shared the most important things they've learned during their leadership tenures with Becker's on Oct. 2. 

Sophia Shaklian of Los Angeles and Alex Alexsanian of Burbank, Calif., were arrested on an indictment alleging that they planned to defraud Medicare out of more than $54 million. 

An emergency medicine physician from Annandale, Va., has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 7,000 oxycodone pills, 34,000 milliliters of hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution and 107,000 milliliters of promethazine-codeine solution.

A physician in Landis, N.C., and his medical practice have agreed to pay $625,000 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act from their involvement in a laboratory kickback scheme. 

The Federation of American Hospitals, the American Medical Association and the Texas Medical Association filed an amicus brief Oct. 7, urging the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to reverse a judge's ruling that rendered decisions made under the No Surprises Act "unenforceable."