In a recent American Journal of Gastroenterology study, Dr. Dipen Patel and colleagues revealed a troubling trend: Medicare payments to physicians for GI procedures like colonoscopy and EGD fell by over 22% (inflation-adjusted) between 2018 and 2023, while facility reimbursements rose or held steady—fueling fears of healthcare consolidation. With ASC and hospital outpatient department payments up nearly 20–30% (nominal), independent GI practices are feeling the squeeze. Policymakers and the AMA warn this disparity may be pushing physicians out of private practice and into health systems or corporate ownership. Proposed reforms aim to tie Medicare fee updates to inflation, but legislative…
Author: Abhay Panchal
A new peer-reviewed study published in Radiology shows that CT colonography (CTC) not only reduces colorectal cancer incidence more effectively than multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) tests, but also saves costs. Simulating 10,000 individuals over 30 years, researchers found that CTC cut cancer incidence by 70–75% compared to 59% with mt-sDNA. It also proved cost-saving, while mt-sDNA, though effective, cost ~$9,000 per QALY gained. Researchers suggest a hybrid model: use CTC every three years for small polyps, and refer only larger ones for colonoscopy—balancing prevention with economics.
In a potential leap beyond traditional scopes, researchers at the OnePlanet Research Center have developed a swallowable sensor pill that could transform how we diagnose and manage gut health. The 2.1 cm x 0.75 cm device continuously measures temperature, pH, and—for the first time—gut redox balance, a critical but overlooked biomarker. Swallowed with water, the pill collects data every 20 seconds and operates for up to a week, depending on gut mobility. Clinical trials for IBD and colorectal cancer begin this month.
In a field where precision and endurance go hand in hand, Dr. Amandeep Shergill—professor of clinical medicine at UCSF—is quietly transforming how gastroenterologists perform one of their most physically taxing tasks: endoscopy. Her unlikely journey into ergonomics began with personal frustration during fellowship training, when traditional techniques didn’t fit her body. That disconnect sparked a groundbreaking career in endoscopy ergonomics. By partnering with leading ergonomist Dr. David Rempel and later co-founding the UC Berkeley Center for Ergonomic Endoscopy, Shergill helped uncover how poorly designed tools and procedural setups contribute to musculoskeletal disorders in GIs. Her solution? A simple but powerful…
Chicago-based 32 Biosciences, a precision gut microbiome medicine company, has secured $6 million in funding to accelerate development of its diagnostic platform and therapeutic pipeline. Led by CEO Peter Farmakis, the company leverages AI/machine learning to assess the functional health of the gut microbiome—aiming to diagnose, prevent, and treat chronic diseases by restoring microbiome balance.
MedCore Partners, in collaboration with GI Alliance, has opened a new state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) and managed clinic in Bentonville, Arkansas, further extending access to advanced GI care in the region. Located at 3700 SE Dodson Rd, the facility opened to patients in February 2025 and features:
In a candid reflection on the growing gastroenterologist shortage, Dr. Harish Gagneja of Austin Gastroenterology (a GI Alliance practice) offers a nuanced view on the role of private equity (PE) in addressing workforce challenges. Writing for the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), he draws on five years of experience within a PE-affiliated group to highlight both the support and scrutiny that come with such partnership.
Cambridge-based diagnostics company Tagomics has secured an £860,000 ($1.1 million) grant from Innovate UK to develop an early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostic using its Interlace platform. The award, part of the UK government’s Biomedical Catalyst programme, supports a £1.2 million project focused on identifying DNA-based biomarkers through multiomic profiling. The pilot study—led by Dr. Arash Assadsangabi, gastroenterologist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust—will profile 250 patients suspected of CRC in partnership with the Northern Care Alliance Research Collection. The aim is to validate early biomarkers and prove Interlace’s value in noninvasive detection.
Dr. Spencer Dorn, a practicing gastroenterologist and contributor to Forbes, offers a compelling insider’s view on why 2025 may be remembered as the year AI agents started transforming healthcare. Unlike early chatbots, these agents are built on large language models equipped with memory, tools, and decision-making capabilities—able to book appointments, answer billing questions, and even manage clinical follow-ups without human intervention. Dorn explains how these “digital workers” are already easing frontline burdens, especially in areas like call centers, intake, and post-discharge care. But he also issues a clear-eyed warning: as promising as these tools are, healthcare’s complexity makes deployment anything…
Dr. Sameer Berry, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Oshi Health, has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2025—a recognition of his groundbreaking role in reshaping how digestive care is delivered in America. Berry helped create and scale Oshi Health as the first nationwide virtual gastroenterology clinic, delivering a multidisciplinary, high-touch care model previously unseen—and unreimbursed—in GI. Under his clinical leadership, Oshi’s virtual model unites GI-focused dietitians, behavioral health providers, APPs, and gastroenterologists to provide faster, whole-person care. The result: a 98% patient satisfaction rate, improved outcomes, and $10,292 in cost savings per patient…