ASCs can not only provide financial opportunities for physicians, but they also can offer a more ideal work experience and an opportunity for autonomy. 

Nephrology is the physician specialty with the highest average charges per provider, according to claims data in a May report from Definitive Healthcare. 

The annual salary for physicians largely exceeds the base cost of living for each state in the U.S., according to data from ZipRecruiter and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

United Surgical Partners International, AmSurg and Surgical Care Affiliates are the largest ASC chains in the U.S.

The Connecticut legislature's one-year, $24.2 billion state budget will eliminate ASC taxes by July 1, law firm Garfunkel Wild said May 6. 

Nearly 1 in 4 physicians have experienced mistreatment in the workplace, according to research published May 6 in JAMA Network Open. 

ASCs might have relief from the provisions of the No Surprises Act later this year after HHS requested a hold of its appeal of a federal court ruling in Texas that voided part of the act's arbitration process. 

A California court ruled that a surgical clinic will not lose its status as a healthcare provider solely because a physician acted beyond the scope of his license, allegedly causing a patient's death, Human Resources Director America reported May 6. 

With low infection rates and fast turnarounds, ASCs are increasingly viewed as ideal sites of outpatient services.

Robert Delagente, DO, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for opioid distribution and falsifying medical records to cover it up, the Justice Department said May 5.

Here are eight federal healthcare updates from the last two weeks: 

Envision Healthcare claims UnitedHealth Group is forcing physician groups out of network in an effort to recruit them to its subsidiary Optum, according to a May 2 lawsuit focused on Florida-based members and providers.

Supply chain issues and CMS policies are two of the big obstacles ASCs face in providing patient care. 

Below are seven ASC acquisitions, affiliations and partnerships that Becker's has covered in the past 58 days:

The Dow had its worst day since 2020 May 5, slipping 1,063 points, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Egg Harbor Township, N.J.-based AtlantiCare Surgery Center is celebrating its 25th birthday, ROI-NJ reported May 5.

Fifteen percent of physicians said they were not given an annual raise, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2022," released April 15. 

Monthly ASC claims rose 47.1 percent from 2020 to 2021, according to an April report from Definitive Healthcare. 

Four lawsuits from the U.S. Justice Department have put physicians under fire for opioid distribution in the last 10 days. 

Twelve medical professionals were charged with crimes related to illegal opioid distribution, the Justice Department said May 4.