The American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidance, reaffirming that average-risk adults should begin screening at age 45 and continue through age 75. The update also incorporates several newly approved screening technologies, including stool RNA, next-generation stool DNA, and blood-based tests. The ACS continues to favor stool-based screening options, noting that next-generation stool DNA and stool RNA tests demonstrated strong colorectal cancer detection rates and moderate sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions. In contrast, blood-based screening tests showed lower sensitivity for both early-stage cancers and precancerous lesions, leading the ACS to recommend them primarily for individuals who decline…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Gastroenterologists in the US reported average pay gains — unlike a year earlier in a Medscape survey, where their pay was essentially flat — and they offered a positive vibe as well. Compared to the previous year, gastroenterologists more often said they felt fairly paid and similar shares expected to finish the year with some level of compensation increase. (Note: Respondents were full-time physicians who practice in the US only, and they reported total compensation including base salary, incentive bonus, and other income such as profit-sharing contributions.)
A new national survey suggests physicians are leaving clinical practice earlier than ever—and burnout-related pressures appear to be accelerating the trend. Published in The Permanente Journal, the study analyzed nearly 1,000 clinically inactive physicians and found that the average age of doctors leaving practice was just 48 years old—roughly nine years younger than a similar cohort studied in 2008. The leading reasons for leaving were “hassle factor” (44.7%), stress (44.5%), unrealistic patient demands (41.1%), and lack of professional satisfaction (38.4%). The findings also revealed a concerning pipeline issue: 11% of surveyed physicians completed residency training but never entered clinical practice…
In the ASTRO phase 3 abstract, adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis receiving subcutaneous guselkumab induction had a 21 percentage point adjusted advantage over placebo in week 12 clinical remission. ASTRO was a double-blind, treat-through, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial evaluating subcutaneous induction and maintenance treatment. Week 24 remission was also higher in both guselkumab groups, while the overall safety profile was broadly similar across groups.
Virtual colonoscopy is gaining renewed attention as a less invasive alternative to traditional colonoscopy, particularly for patients reluctant to undergo standard screening. A Boston Medical Center radiologist argues that CT colonography remains significantly underutilized despite strong evidence supporting its effectiveness in detecting clinically important colorectal lesions. Unlike traditional colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy does not require sedation, takes only 10–20 minutes, and allows patients to immediately return to work or daily activities—features that may improve screening participation among working adults and underserved populations. The article also highlights an important behavioral insight: abnormal findings on virtual colonoscopy often motivate hesitant patients to proceed…
Prior authorization is entering what may be its biggest regulatory overhaul in years, with federal agencies and insurers pushing toward faster decisions, electronic workflows, and greater transparency. But many physicians remain deeply skeptical that the changes will meaningfully reduce administrative burden or improve patient access to care. The article highlights mounting frustration among clinicians: 95% of physicians surveyed by the AMA said prior authorization delays necessary care, 79% reported patients abandoning treatment because of authorization barriers, and 26% said the process had contributed to serious adverse events in their practices. At the same time, insurers and CMS are rolling out…
Lawmakers in Washington are increasingly linking declining Medicare physician reimbursement to the rapid consolidation of independent medical practices into hospitals and large health systems. During a recent House hearing, physicians and lawmakers argued that Medicare pay has fallen roughly 33% since 2001 when adjusted for inflation, making it increasingly difficult for independent practices to survive financially. The discussion reflects growing bipartisan concern that reimbursement pressure is accelerating healthcare consolidation, which many experts believe ultimately raises costs for patients and taxpayers. Physicians testified that shrinking margins are pushing more doctors toward hospital employment, while lawmakers warned that reduced competition may further…
A noninvasive magnetic neuromodulation therapy significantly improved fecal incontinence symptoms in a sham-controlled Phase 3 trial, with responder rates reaching 66% to 81% compared with 32% in the sham group after six weeks of treatment. The therapy, called translumbosacral neuromodulation (TNT), uses external magnetic stimulation to target lumbosacral nerves involved in bowel control. Researchers also observed improvements in urgency, stool frequency, quality-of-life measures, anal squeeze pressures, and objective neurophysiologic markers, suggesting the treatment may address underlying neuropathy rather than simply masking symptoms.
The medical management of obesity is changing, thanks in part to new views on obesity and widespread adoption of weight-loss medications. There are ways to combine medications with surgery to achieve greater weight loss for patients, as well as novel ICD-10 diagnosis codes that can be used to increase reimbursement for obesity management, experts said during the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 2025 annual meeting. “There’s still so much stigma and bias with obesity,” said Marc-Andre Cornier, MD, the president of The Obesity Society and the director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Diseases at the…
The latest Medscape Physician Compensation Report shows that Gastroenterology ranked as the 4th highest-paid specialty in the U.S. in 2025, with average annual compensation reaching $526,000. Only orthopedics ($573K), cardiology ($552K), and radiology ($544K) ranked higher. The report attributes GI’s continued financial strength to steady procedural demand, particularly as colorectal cancer screening volumes rise and more endoscopic care shifts into outpatient and ASC settings. The ranking reinforces how gastroenterology remains one of the most economically important procedural specialties in medicine, despite ongoing reimbursement pressure and operational challenges facing GI practices.