Category: ASC Coding, Billing and Collections

In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would ban noncompete contracts for full-time employees and independent contractors. 

UnitedHealthcare Group, Cigna and CVS Health-backed insurer Aetna, three of the largest U.S. insurers by membership, each had an eventful 2023. 

Nearly 200 members of Congress have co-signed a bipartisan letter urging House and Senate leaders to pass legislation addressing 2024’s Medicare physician pay cuts, according to a Jan. 4 report from the American Medical Association. 

Cigna is reportedly in “advanced talks” to sell its Medicare Advantage business to Chicago-based health insurer Health Care Service Corp., according to a Jan. 3 report from The Wall Street Journal.

The reimbursement disparity between hospital outpatient departments and ASCs is frustrating leaders as costs soar. 

Here are three providers who have been charged or sentenced for their alleged roles in fraud schemes that Becker’s has reported on since Dec. 5:

Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System has finalized a new agreement with UnitedHealthcare allowing its urgent care, outpatient facilities and First Physicians Group healthcare providers to remain in-network with UHC’s Medicare Advantage plan, acc…

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have banned all noncompetes, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 23.

ASCs, physician groups and hospitals can provide non-monetary compensation to physicians up to an amount of $507 for the calendar year 2024, according to a Dec. 27 Lexology report. 

Cigna, which is the fourth largest insurer in the U.S. by membership size, is considering the sale of its Medicare Advantage business.