Patsy Newitt

2 days ago | beckersasc.com | Patsy Newitt

In the past month, several significant hospital and health system deals have taken place that could have downstream implications for ASCs.Here are five key developments:Emory, Houston Healthcare merger finalized Houston Healthcare, a community health system in Warner Robins, Ga., officially became part of Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare on June 1. The two organizations signed a letter of intent in August 2023 and reached a definitive agreement in February 2024.

2 days ago | beckersasc.com | Patsy Newitt

A Louisiana man pleaded guilty to his role in a $3.8 million fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary medical equipment and physician kickbacks, the Justice Department said in a June 5 news release. What happened?  From 2018 to 2023, Michael Riggins, owner of West Monroe, La.-based supply company Bluewater Healthcare, paid for physician’s orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and tricked physicians into signing orders of medical necessity to bill for it.

2 days ago | beckersasc.com | Patsy Newitt

A single-center study published in JAMA supported recent recommendations that the age of colorectal cancer screening age be lowered to… Hickory, N.C.-based Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke Lifepoint facility, has added gastroenterology services.

3 days ago | beckersasc.com | Patsy Newitt

Family medicine remains the most common specialty among physician associates, according to the 2025 American Academy of Physician Associates Salary Survey. Data for the report draws from a survey of 9,789 non-retired PAs in the U.S. between Jan. 14 and Feb. 28, 2025. Distribution of PAs by specialty:Family medicine: 16.4%Orthopedic surgery: 11.5%Emergency medicine: 7.8%Urgent care: 4.6%Internal medicine: 4.6%Dermatology: 4.2%Hospital medicine: 3.4%Cardiology: 3.1%

3 days ago | beckersasc.com | Patsy Newitt

A House GOP bill, cleared May 22 by a 215–214 vote, would eliminate the pass-through entity tax deduction, a move that many physician groups warn would raise taxes on private medical practices, more than 20 national medical organizations wrote in a May 20 letter. Here are five things to know: 1.