Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after years of declining demand, financial losses, and fallout from a major 2023 data breach. CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down, and interim CEO Joe Selsavage is now overseeing operations as the company seeks a buyer. The firm will continue operating during restructuring but faces intense scrutiny over customer data security. California’s Attorney General is urging users to request data and sample deletion, citing privacy concerns. Once a Silicon Valley darling, 23andMe’s valuation has plummeted, with shares now in penny stock territory.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A surge in the use of non-FDA-approved, compounded, and counterfeit versions of diabetes and obesity drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) has prompted warnings from the FDA and leading medical organizations due to serious safety concerns. Initially allowed during drug shortages, compounded forms will soon be banned as shortages have officially ended. Experts emphasize that these unregulated alternatives—often sold by questionable online sources—lack the rigorous testing and oversight of FDA-approved medications.
A new short-term federal funding bill has locked in a fifth consecutive year of Medicare physician payment cuts, with 2026 rates proposing a 2.8% reduction despite rising practice costs. Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage plans will see a 4.33% increase in payments. AMA President Dr. Bruce Scott warns this growing disparity threatens the sustainability of physician practices and patient access to care. He emphasizes the urgent need for Medicare payment reform, including annual payment updates tied to practice costs, budget neutrality reforms, improved MIPS, and enhanced alternative payment models.
Gastrointestinal procedures make up a huge share of the most commonly billed services at ASCs, according to a March 13 MedPAC report. While cataract surgeries top the list, several GI-related procedures follow closely, accounting for a large portion of ASC case volume for Medicare beneficiaries.
The Doctors Company’s $1.3 billion acquisition of ProAssurance signals growing consolidation in the medical malpractice insurance market amid rising healthcare costs and increased mergers among physician groups. The deal, offering ProAssurance shareholders a 60% premium, will expand The Doctors Company’s national scale and solidify its position as a leading physician-owned liability insurer. With more doctors working for hospitals and large groups—who provide malpractice coverage—this move reflects the need for insurers to evolve and scale to meet the demands of a rapidly consolidating healthcare landscape.
A new 2025 survey from Athenahealth and the Harris Poll reveals that fewer physicians are thinking about leaving their jobs compared to 2024, with improved attitudes driven in part by the adoption of AI technology. Many doctors see AI—especially in transcription and documentation—as a key tool to reduce burnout and administrative burden. While only 3 in 10 physicians currently use AI, optimism about its potential is growing. Despite improvements, concerns persist around the future of U.S. healthcare, especially regarding interoperability, financial stability, and regulatory demands.
The article explains how AI agents—autonomous systems powered by tools like large language models—can streamline clinical and administrative tasks in gastroenterology practices. Specifically, it highlights how AI can optimize revenue cycle management by improving coding accuracy, predicting claim denials, and automating appeals. It also shows how AI can accelerate prior authorization processes by extracting necessary data from electronic health records, submitting complete documentation, and tracking approvals in real time.
A new study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that using WATS-3D, a wide-area transepithelial sampling tool with 3D computer-assisted analysis, alongside traditional forceps biopsies (FB) significantly increases detection of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and dysplasia in patients with GERD undergoing screening endoscopy. In a registry of nearly 24,000 patients, WATS-3D identified BE in nearly 20% of cases missed by FB alone and doubled the detection of dysplasia. The tool also led to changes in clinical management in over 90% of cases with positive WATS-3D and negative FB results. Authors and experts suggest WATS-3D is a valuable adjunct to…
This first-ever ACG guideline addresses gastric premalignant conditions—including atrophic gastritis, gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), dysplasia, and certain epithelial polyps—due to their potential progression to gastric adenocarcinoma (GC). Although the U.S. is a low-incidence country for GC, certain non-White and immigrant populations experience significantly higher rates, making GC an underrecognized health disparity.
Guardant Health’s Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is now covered with no copay for U.S. veterans and eligible family members aged 45–84 under the VA Community Care Network. This marks the first coverage of the test for individuals younger than 65 and outside the Medicare population. Shield, FDA-approved in July 2024, is the first blood-based CRC screening test for average-risk individuals and can be prescribed by any provider. This expansion significantly increases access to early cancer detection for over 9 million VA beneficiaries.