President Trump repealed a Biden-era executive order which placed scrutiny on consolidation across industries, including healthcare. This repeal opens the door for a wave of consolidations and acquisitions across the industry. While consolidation may increase referrals and leverage power with payers, providers also report a loss of autonomy and ability to individualize care for patients. This shift in policy is predicted to create an opportunity for strategic expansion and partnership across specialties, especially in orthopedics and spine.

Source: Beckers ASC Review

Analysts anticipate a rise in cost and reduction of insurance coverage in the coming year. Reduced federal aid, increased numbers of emergency and mental health treatments, increased cost of prescriptions and medical supplies, are all cited as contributing factors to uncertainty in the insurance market. While enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace has been robust, insurers state that healthy customers are increasingly dropping their coverage in the individual market, leaving a more concentrated population of sick individuals generating claims. Price increases will be felt most obviously in the Affordable Care Act individual coverage marketplace. These increases may force employers to shift some costs onto their employees through increased deductibles or out of pocket costs for prescriptions.

Source: ASCA

United Healthcare has filed a lawsuit against an Arizona radiology practice alleging abuse of the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process of the No Surprises Act. Radiology Partners denies any wrongdoing and states the allegations are proof of large payers turning to litigation when they are on the losing side of the No Surprises Act arbitration process. UHC’s and Radiology Partners have been engaged in multiple disputes and the lawsuit seeks to overturn past settlements and negate any future payments for services performed by Radiology Partner’s physicians.

Source: Beckers ASC Review

Approximately 20% of healthcare associated infections are surgical site infections (SSIs).  A simple step to curbing SSIs is proper point of use instrument care. While often overshadowed by focus on sterilization protocols or perioperative practices, point of use cleaning is a critical first step to the reduction of bioburden. This practice decreases colonization of microorganisms and can extend the life of instruments. Lack of education and resources, and a sense of pressure in the OR can decrease compliance with point of use cleaning. Empowering staff to practice proper point of use cleaning is a simple and effective step toward improved patient safety and decreased SSIs.

Source: Infection Control Today