During a featured session at Becker's 21st Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC +The Future of Spine Conference, Reid Zeising, founder and CEO of Gain, discussed the company's mission, payer trends and complex claims. 

During a featured session at Becker's 21st Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC +The Future of Spine Conference, Brett Spark, president of Aroris Health, discussed challenges and opportunities in payer contracting for ASCs.

As practice costs skyrocket and reimbursements continue to sink, physicians are angered at CMS' proposal to cut physician pay by 2.8%. 

Although the ASC industry is largely fragmented, independence is becoming increasingly difficult as practice costs soar and healthcare consolidates. 

CMS proposed a 2.8% conversion factor reduction to its physician fee schedule for 2025 July 10. 

Debbie Aizenberg, MD, is the new CMO of UC Davis’ ambulatory clinical care services in Sacramento, Calif. 

Themes that were present throughout 2023 such as artificial intelligence, provider satisfaction, and market pressures will continue to drive how practices and providers operate in 2024. Anticipating their impact and taking advantage of them may distinguish the most successful practices in the new year and beyond.

 As physicians face high inflation rates and skyrocketing practice costs, many feel Medicare pay is insufficient. 

Independent ASCs are facing major obstacles amid increasing healthcare consolidation and shifting payer behavior. 

Here are five leadership moves in 2024 by former or current employees of Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health:

The three highest-paid executives of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare saw a rise in both base salary and total compensation.

The highest-paid executives of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, saw a base salary jump but a total compensation decline.

ASCs and hospitals in many markets have a complicated relationship, with some hospitals opposing surgery centers despite looking to invest in their own centers.

Physicians trying to open ASCs in many markets face opposition from hospital leaders when trying to obtain a certificate-of-need. 

The Wall Street Journal named one health system CEO in its ranking of S&P 500 CEO pay released May 21.

Five physician leaders joined Becker's to discuss how satisfied they are with their current pay and what they'd like to see change.  

Physicians continue to migrate to employed models as private practice costs rise. 

On May 31, California Gov. Gavin Newsom delayed the start of minimum wage increases for healthcare workers by one month. 

Matt Mazurek, MD, assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology at St. Raphael's Campus of Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital, joined Becker's to discuss how physician shortages will transform care access. 

In 2024, 28% of physicians have a net worth ranging between $2 million and $4.9 million, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Wealth and Debt Report," published June 12.