A Forbes analysis by neurosurgeon and political scientist Dr. Richard Menger explores the moral tension surrounding concierge medicine amid the U.S. physician shortage. Concierge care offers personalized access and longer visits—often for annual fees of $2,000–$4,000—but also reduces the number of available doctors for the broader population. While it restores autonomy and reduces burnout for physicians, it risks deepening healthcare inequities as hospitals and academic centers expand premium-tier programs. The article ultimately frames concierge medicine as both a pragmatic adaptation and an ethical dilemma, reflecting competing values of equity versus freedom in American healthcare.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A large Yale-led study of nearly 25 million privately insured adults found declining use of colonoscopy and FIT tests and rising adoption of stool DNA screening between 2017 and 2024. Despite universal insurance coverage, disparities emerged: men favored colonoscopy, women more often chose stool DNA tests, and higher socioeconomic or metropolitan areas had greater screening uptake. Researchers say the findings reveal an evolving, uneven screening landscape — and call for tailored interventions to reach the national 80% screening goal.
A new BMJ Open Gastroenterology study comparing colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) with colonoscopy and CT colonography found that only 2% of CCE patients reported pain, versus 21% for colonoscopy and 12% for CT colonography. However, more CCE patients doubted its effectiveness (25% vs 11%) and reported lower satisfaction (74% vs 91%). Researchers say refining patient selection, education, and support will be key to improving confidence in this less invasive diagnostic option.
EngagedMD announced a major partnership with Solaris Health, the nation’s largest urology MSO, to standardize patient education across its 18 affiliates and 730 providers. The collaboration will roll out EngagedMD’s digital platform to improve patient preparedness, reduce repetitive counseling, and enhance provider efficiency — achieving outcomes like 50% faster consults and 95%+ patient satisfaction. Initial deployment will focus on vasectomy, prostate biopsy, and BPH workflows, marking a major step in digitizing specialty care at scale.
At ESMO 2025, results from the CheckMate 8HW trial showed that combining nivolumab and ipilimumab delivered a clinically meaningful survival benefit over nivolumab alone for patients with MSI-high/mismatch-repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. The doublet improved progression-free survival by 31%, boosted response rates to 73%, and achieved a 4-year OS of 78%. Experts called the regimen a new frontline standard for eligible patients, though ongoing studies aim to extend these benefits to microsatellite-stable disease.
At ACG 2025, Exact Sciences presented compelling new research showing how its Cologuard® and Cologuard Plus™ tests drive higher colorectal cancer screening completion rates — especially among underserved and older populations. Studies revealed that mt-sDNA users were 74% more likely to complete screening than FIT users, and that digital outreach doubled engagement. Modeling also showed next-gen Cologuard detecting 5.5x more precancers and cutting treatment costs versus FIT. Together, the findings strengthen the case for noninvasive, at-home testing as a cornerstone of equitable CRC prevention.
1. Compensation decline in real terms: Average gastroenterologist pay dropped from $512,000 in 2023 to $495,000 in 2024, reflecting a 3% nominal decline — and because inflation has pushed the equivalent of 2015’s $370,000 salary to around $502,930 today, the 2024 average actually represents a real-term pay cut. This contravenes expectations given rising costs and practice burdens, making it harder for GI practices to sustain independent models. 2. Only 37% of GIs feel fairly compensated: This reflects a persistent misalignment between reimbursement and workload intensity. The dissatisfaction is prompting worries about burnout, retention and the specialty’s migration toward hospital employment.
A breakthrough study published in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, the official journal of the ACG, showcases ProPhase Labs’ BE-Smart — an 8-protein, mass-spectrometry-based assay that accurately predicts which Barrett’s esophagus patients are likely to develop esophageal cancer. Developed with the Mayo Clinic, BE-Smart achieved 100% sensitivity and a hazard ratio of 66, marking a major leap in molecular risk stratification. The test requires minimal tissue and works with standard biopsies, offering a scalable, next-generation approach for early cancer detection. Early access and physician programs are set to launch in early 2026.
In a move signaling the next leap in GI innovation, Dallas-based Surgical Automations has raised $3.4 million in an oversubscribed seed round co-led by Dr. Fred Moll (founder of Intuitive Surgical) and TurboStart. Operating largely in stealth, the company is developing the Vāsuki Robotic System — a platform combining robotics, sensors, and AI-driven navigation to automate key steps in upper and lower GI procedures. With ambitions to make colonoscopy faster, safer, and more precise, Surgical Automations is now advancing toward pre-clinical validation and its first human trials.
EndoQuest Robotics is integrating NVIDIA’s IGX Thor platform — built on the Blackwell architecture — to accelerate its next-generation endoluminal surgical robot. The collaboration will combine NVIDIA’s AI stack (Holoscan, CUDA, AI Enterprise) with EndoQuest’s visualization and robotic control systems to enable real-time image processing, precise motion control, and secure cloud intelligence. This move strengthens EndoQuest’s roadmap toward commercializing its flexible robotic system as it advances the PARADIGM Trial in GI and colorectal surgery. [Read more →]