A growing number of physicians are transitioning to cash-based or hybrid payment models to reduce reliance on insurance, avoid administrative hassles, and create more predictable revenue streams. Rising medical school debt and patient demand for faster, transparent care are driving this shift.Key strategies for making the transition include starting with a hybrid model, clearly communicating changes to patients, offering specialized services that add value, and maintaining transparent pricing. Physicians are advised to build financial reserves, strengthen business skills, and remain cautious of costly consultant scams.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cloud-based technologies are transforming healthcare by improving patient monitoring, optimizing staffing, and predicting health outcomes. With over 54% of Medicare beneficiaries now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, value-based care continues to focus on reducing costs while enhancing quality outcomes. AI supports this shift through data analytics, remote monitoring, and reducing administrative burdens, enabling rapid intervention and personalized care plans.
The recent murder of a health insurance executive highlights growing frustration with the U.S. healthcare system. A study in JAMA reveals that employed physicians are increasingly unionizing, with union petitions surging from about two per year (2000–2022) to two per month in the last 17 months of the study. Key drivers include poor working conditions (85%), lack of voice in management (81%), and patient care concerns (54%)—not financial compensation. Physicians, like patients, feel they’ve lost control to corporate entities, sparking calls for reform and a customer revolution in healthcare.
Eight gastroenterologists made news recently for various achievements and changes in their careers. Highlights include the passing of Dr. Ilwoong Chang, who practiced for 40 years, and Dr. Michael Paolucci becoming Montrose, Colorado’s first gastroenterologist. NYU Langone Health expanded its gastroenterology leadership team, while Commonwealth Gastroenterology in Virginia announced its closure as Dr. Scott Woogen retires. Other updates include new hires and leadership appointments in gastroenterology practices across the U.S., reflecting both growth and transitions in the field.
Gastro Health & Nutrition aims to provide people with the treatment they need to achieve optimal gut health. The gastroenterology practice, owned by Dr. Dharmendra Verma, offers services to treat acid reflux, swallowing and motility disorders, irritable bowel syndrome and more.
A study at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center found that AI-assisted colonoscopies (AIAC) led to a 4% absolute increase in the resection of benign lesions compared to unassisted procedures. AIAC uses computer-aided detection (CADe) to enhance adenoma detection rates (ADR) and reduce miss rates but may also result in unnecessary removal of non-neoplastic lesions. Researchers analyzed 1,040 colonoscopies—599 with AI assistance and 441 without—conducted for screening, surveillance, or positive fecal tests. Both groups had balanced demographics, and the same eight endoscopists, all new to AI technology, performed the procedures.The findings highlight AI’s potential to improve detection while raising concerns about…
Dr. Glenn Loomis, an expert in physician compensation and practice management, discusses how Relative Value Units (RVUs) are used to measure and standardize physician workload and compensation across specialties. In the podcast series “How I Doctor,” Loomis explains that RVUs factor in both the time and intensity required for medical services, making them a widely used—though imperfect—tool for fair pay comparisons.While RVUs have flaws, Loomis stresses that they remain the best available method to evaluate physician productivity and earnings fairly. The series also explores employment contracts and interview preparation for maximizing compensation and career growth.
The FDA has reaffirmed its decision that the shortage of tirzepatide—marketed as Mounjaro (diabetes) and Zepbound (weight loss)—is officially over. This announcement ends compounding pharmacies’ ability to produce versions of the drug, effective within 60-90 days.
Steward Health Care’s dramatic rise and fall mirrors the surge of private equity investments in U.S. healthcare after the 2010 Affordable Care Act. By 2019, private equity health deals had tripled in value to $120 billion, enabling firms to acquire about 460 U.S. hospitals—8% of private hospitals and 22% of for-profit facilities.Once a promising chain with over 30 hospitals, Steward now faces bankruptcy with $9 billion in debt and federal investigations into alleged financial mismanagement. Massachusetts taxpayers may foot a $700 million bill to rescue several of its facilities.What went wrong? Steward’s story highlights the risks of prioritizing profits over…
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, with rates rising among younger adults. Early detection can prevent cancer or boost survival rates to 92%, but many delay screenings due to costs. After losing her father and grandmother to colorectal cancer, Margaret Stamp turned tragedy into advocacy. Her efforts helped Nebraska pass laws requiring insurance to cover vital colorectal cancer screenings—including polyp removal, pathology exams, and prep medications—eliminating costly barriers to early detection.