Yen Luu, the former billing manager at San Jose (Calif.) Gastroenterology, filed a complaint against the GI group for harassment, unlawful retaliation, wrongful termination and other employment-related claims, according to court documents reviewed by Becker’s.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Physicians are bracing for a 6.3% Medicare pay cut, marking the fifth consecutive year of reductions, as Congress fails to adjust reimbursement rates in its latest spending package. While Republican leadership has pledged to address this issue in an upcoming budget reconciliation bill, physicians are warning that continued cuts will jeopardize patient access, especially for the 66 million Americans on Medicare, and worsen the ongoing crisis in rural healthcare. These reductions disproportionately harm smaller and independent practices, as doctors face rising costs without inflation adjustments, leading to practice closures, longer patient wait times, and reduced care quality.
Physicians often face a heartbreaking reality: caring for patients under a system that rewards procedures over prevention, leaving them overburdened and under-incentivized to focus on long-term health. CMS’s current reimbursement model favors expensive interventions while underpaying preventative care efforts like RPM and CCM, and even value-based care models struggle under the weight of financial risk providers are unwilling to bear. Instead of minor penalties like the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, a bold shift to outcome-based incentives—such as call options on rehospitalizations—could financially reward providers for keeping patients out of the hospital, realigning physician motivation with patient well-being.
Cylinder, a leading virtual digestive health provider, has announced a partnership with Teladoc Health to broaden access to high-quality gastrointestinal care for health plan and employer members. With digestive health issues impacting up to 70 million Americans and costing $136 billion annually, this collaboration allows Teladoc’s customers to seamlessly offer Cylinder’s personalized, evidence-based GI care through Teladoc’s Prism platform. Cylinder’s services include access to gastroenterologists, dietitians, and health coaches, delivering tailored care for all acuity levels.
A new Health Affairs study highlights a growing problem for healthcare consumers: higher physician turnover rates in private equity (PE)-acquired practices. Analyzing 200 ophthalmology practices bought by PE firms between 2014 and 2021, researchers found that physician turnover jumped from 4.9% before acquisition to 22.2% afterward — a staggering 17.3 percentage point increase. In contrast, similar non-PE-acquired practices saw turnover grow only slightly, from 7.7% to 8.8%.
In the latest episode of Spill, Medtronic Chairman and CEO Geoff Martha takes us on a journey through the next 100 years of health technology. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or someone interested in the future of AI and robotics, this episode is packed with insights on the latest innovations transforming the industry.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that using an Automatic Quality Control System (AQCS) during routine colonoscopy significantly increased adenoma detection rates (ADR), particularly among low- and medium-level detectors. In this multicenter randomized trial in China involving over 1,200 patients, the AQCS-assisted group achieved an ADR of 32.7% compared to 22.6% in the standard colonoscopy group. AQCS also improved detection of nonadvanced adenomas and flat or sessile lesions, with benefits seen across both academic and non-academic centers. Although the AQCS group had slightly longer withdrawal times, no serious adverse events occurred. Researchers conclude that AQCS can meaningfully…
Australian startup Biomebank, known for its world-first regulatory approval of fecal microbiota transplants, is raising $4 million to develop a lab-grown gut therapy aimed at the U.S. market. Founder Sam Costello shared that initial feedback from the FDA on their cultured therapy has been positive, with clear manufacturing parameters established. However, Biomebank’s U.S. expansion faces regulatory uncertainty as potential reforms under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and shifting political dynamics, including RFK Jr.’s influence, create an unclear future for FDA oversight.
QIAGEN has received FDA clearance for its QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel 2 Mini B, expanding its U.S. syndromic testing portfolio for gastrointestinal infections. The panel rapidly detects five key bacterial pathogens—Campylobacter, Salmonella, STEC, Shigella, and Yersinia enterocolitica—in about one hour, supporting fast outpatient diagnostics. This is QIAGEN’s second FDA-cleared QIAstat-Dx panel in 2025 and complements their existing bacterial and viral GI panels, offering laboratories targeted, flexible solutions for diverse clinical settings.
A new study examining U.S. physician mortality reveals a surprising trend—unlike the general population where women live significantly longer than men, women doctors do not share this mortality advantage. While women in other high-income, high-education professions like law and engineering experience lower death rates than their male counterparts, female physicians die at rates similar to male physicians. The reasons remain unclear but may include chronic workplace stress, gender bias, slower promotions, pay gaps, and the double burden of professional and home responsibilities.