A panel at the Value-Based Payment Summit discussed the challenges of healthcare consolidation and strategies to support independent practices through value-based care models. Experts highlighted payment disparities, anti-competitive hospital practices, and administrative burdens as key obstacles. Farzad Mostashari, M.D. (Aledade) emphasized that consolidation raises costs without improving quality and that independent practices excel in value-based care, generating twice the shared savings compared to large health systems.
Author: Abhay Panchal
The capsule endoscopy market is projected to grow from $0.69 billion in 2024 to $1.15 billion by 2029, driven by the increasing prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, demand for non-invasive diagnostics, and advancements in AI-powered and magnetically controlled capsule technology. Key players include Medtronic, Fujifilm, Boston Scientific, and Olympus, with North America leading the market. Emerging trends such as biodegradable capsules and telemedicine integration are expected to further expand market adoption.
In 2023, healthcare providers in the United States potentially expended nearly $18 billion overturning denied insurance claims, according to estimates by Premier. This significant financial burden is partly attributed to the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by insurance companies to automate claim denials. While AI can streamline operations, its application has led to a rise in claim denials, often without thorough human review, prompting legal challenges and legislative actions. For instance, California enacted a law in December 2024 mandating that any denial, delay, or modification of care based on medical necessity must be reviewed by a licensed physician or…
The Healthy Technology Act of 2025 proposes allowing AI to prescribe medications if state-authorized and FDA-approved, but experts caution that AI prescribing is not yet feasible. While AI assists in decision-making, it lacks the clinical judgment required for independent prescribing. Concerns include data bias, accuracy issues, and regulatory gaps, with no AI currently matching physician expertise. Experts compare AI prescribing to self-driving cars—promising, but requiring rigorous testing before mass adoption. Until prospective clinical trials prove AI’s reliability, the debate over AI’s role in medication management remains open.
Despite guidelines recommending screening for esophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus (BO), uptake remains low due to the invasive nature and cost of endoscopy. Emerging non-endoscopic, swallowable cell collection devices combined with biomarker analysis have shown promising accuracy and safety, leading to their inclusion in screening guidelines. Pragmatic trials indicate patient interest, with up to 60% favoring capsule sponge-based screening, suggesting that minimally invasive alternatives could significantly enhance early detection and intervention efforts.
As the 100th anniversary of Crohn’s disease approaches, the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has seen remarkable advancements, including biologics, small molecules, and personalized treatment strategies. These innovations have improved patient outcomes and quality of life, yet challenges persist, such as the increasing global incidence, financial burdens, and therapeutic limitations. This special issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology brings together experts to review recent breakthroughs and explore future directions in IBD care, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and novel therapeutic approaches.
In this podcast episode, Prateek Sharma, MD, about how program directors can help shepherd GI fellows into clinical research spaces, providing quality exams for upper endoscopy and more.
Miami-based Gastro Health is setting a bold new course in GI care, driven by physician engagement and growth strategies. Newly appointed Chief Medical Officer Eugenio Hernandez, MD — who has been a trailblazer since co-founding the practice in 1998 — joined Becker’s to discuss his top priorities for the organization in the next year.
Guardant Health has filed a lawsuit against rival Natera in California federal court, alleging that former employees stole thousands of confidential files to aid Natera’s development of competing cancer-detection blood tests. The lawsuit follows a previous $292.5 million false advertising verdict against Natera in November. Guardant claims its Shield test was the first FDA-approved early cancer blood test and accuses Natera of aggressively recruiting its employees to gain a competitive edge. Guardant seeks an injunction and monetary damages, while Natera denies the allegations, calling them baseless.
A randomized controlled trial comparing a digitally delivered gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) program (Nerva) to an active control found that GDH significantly improved IBS symptoms and quality of life. Among 240 participants, 81% of those using the GDH program experienced a ≥50-point decrease in IBS symptom severity compared to 63% in the control group (P = 0.002). GDH also led to a greater reduction in pain (71% vs. 35%, P < 0.001) and quality-of-life improvements (P < 0.001). These findings support digital GDH as an effective and accessible alternative to in-person behavioral interventions for IBS management.