HHS Releases Unfavorable Opinion Against Physician Practices On September 28, 2023, the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a ruling in which it refused to bless an arrangement proposed by a anatomic pathology laboratory company. Under the proposed arrangement, the company would contract with other laboratories...
Medicare Quality Reporting Program Reported to Have Errors Impacting Physicians On August 10, CMS made available the 2022 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance feedback, which determines whether physicians will receive a positive, neutral, or negative payment adjustment on Medicare services furnished in 2024. The AMA has heard alarming reports of physicians facing MIPS penalties...
Vertebral Columns Fall 2023 Issue In the lead article of the Fall 2023 issue of Vertebral Columns, Kern Singh and his team highlight the potential ocular complications that can occur during spine surgery. Other topics in this issue include AI-driven risk stratification, use of augmented reality, multimodal analgesia, part 2 of bone density measurement techniques,...
Federal Trade Commission Files Suit Against Private Equity–Funded Practice On September 21, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the filing of a lawsuit against a Texas anesthesia group that was backed or owned by a private equity firm. The suit claims the anesthesia group (U.S. Anesthesia Partners) and the private equity firm advising and...