Benjamin Levy III, MD, a gastroenterologist at University of Chicago Medicine, joined Becker’s to discuss strategies to safeguard physician autonomy as gastroenterology practices undergo increasing consolidation. Editor’s note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length. Question: What are the biggest challenges in preserving physician autonomy and leadership within GI practices as consolidation accelerates? Dr. Benjamin Levy: The biggest challenge to preserve physician autonomy is to make sure that several Gastroenterologists are placed in advisory leadership positions – and that companies listen and implement their GI advice. . .
Author: Abhay Panchal
A landmark paper in the Journal of Biomedical Informatics presents GutGPT, the first large language model tailored exclusively for gastrointestinal medicine. Built on a foundation of nearly 200,000 curated entries—including real-world doctor–patient dialogues, clinical guidelines, medical knowledge graphs, and licensing exam data—GutGPT was fine-tuned using advanced techniques to balance efficiency, adaptability, and accuracy. In head-to-head comparisons with 16 existing models, it achieved state-of-the-art results, boosting diagnostic accuracy by nearly 10% and showing a marked improvement in empathetic communication with patients. Unlike general-purpose LLMs, GutGPT is designed to capture the complexity of GI diseases, which often require long-term management and patient…
Nearly 300 new CPT codes debut in the 2026 code set, signaling how fast medicine is evolving. The American Medical Association announced 288 additions spanning digital health, AI-enabled diagnostics, hearing devices, and a full overhaul of leg revascularization codes. For the first time, CPT will capture short-duration remote monitoring (as little as 2–15 days), AI-driven cardiac risk analysis, and novel imaging for wound care. With these updates, CPT is no longer just billing shorthand—it’s becoming the backbone of data interoperability and a mirror of how care delivery is shifting toward AI, remote tools, and outpatient innovation.
In this Medscape commentary, Dr. Scott Kopetz of MD Anderson unpacks the rising role of ctDNA in colorectal cancer. Unlike traditional risk factors, ctDNA offers a real-time snapshot of tumor biology with powerful prognostic value. From guiding adjuvant therapy decisions in stage 2 and 3 disease to detecting recurrence months before imaging, the test is reshaping how oncologists think about surveillance and trial design. With sensitivity still evolving and novel therapies on the horizon, is ctDNA about to become the new backbone of CRC management?
In this Forbes piece, Kolawole Samuel Adebayo uncovers how private equity is quietly rewriting its playbook with AI. From Carlyle Group analysts compressing weeks of diligence into hours, to search funds embedding AI agents directly into sourcing and valuation workflows, the technology is moving beyond pilots into core strategy. Bain’s survey shows nearly all firms expect material gains within five years, yet questions remain around data security, build-vs-buy, and keeping pace with rapidly advancing models. Is AI about to become private equity’s biggest competitive edge?
Rising CRC and ASC impact — 5 fast facts Gaps persist: ~40% of adults ≥45 still unscreened; disparities by race, insurance, geography; 79% unaware of age-45 guideline.
A new AJMC review highlights major gaps in access to rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology specialists for U.S. patients with immunological diseases. Barriers include rural residence, Medicaid coverage, low specialist density, and race/ethnicity. Limited GI data were found, but evidence across fields links poor access to worse outcomes—higher disease severity, more hospitalizations, and greater ED use. The authors recommend solutions across the “5 A’s” of access: affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation, and acceptability.
Drs. Michael D. Kappelman and Scott B. Snapper were named Sherman Prize Honorees, and Dr. Oriana Damas received the Emerging Leader Prize. Their pioneering research has advanced IBD science, improved patient outcomes, and deepened understanding of Crohn’s and colitis. They will be formally recognized at the AIBD 2025 conference in Orlando this December, with tribute films premiering on ShermanPrize.org.
Researchers at the University of Geneva have catalogued gut bacteria at the subspecies level and, with machine learning, trained a stool-based test that detects 90% of colorectal cancers—almost on par with colonoscopy (94%) but cheaper, faster, and far less invasive. While still in clinical trials, this approach could reshape CRC screening by reserving colonoscopy for confirmation, not first-line detection. Beyond cancer, the method opens the door to diagnosing a range of diseases from a single stool sample.
A new five-year prior-authorization demo will roll out in 10 states, requiring ASCs to secure approval before performing select procedures often billed as cosmetic but coded as medically necessary. While CMS frames it as a safeguard against fraud and improper payments, ASC leaders warn of heavier bureaucracy, delayed care, and denied claims if documentation falters. For operators, this isn’t just compliance—it’s a stress test of their workflows, technology, and ability to adapt before similar requirements inevitably expand nationwide.