Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1344616
11 ASC MANAGEMENT Top 10 states for nursing pay By Laura Dyrda T he average salary for U.S. nurses is growing and California leads the pack among registered nurses and nurse practitioners, according to May 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. e top states for highest annual salary: RN 1. California: $113,240 2. Hawaii: $104,060 3. Massachusetts: $93,160 4. Oregon: $92,960 5. Alaska: $90,500 6. Nevada: $88,380 7. New York: $87,840 8. Washington: $86,170 9. New Jersey: $84,280 10. Connecticut: $83,440 CRNA 1. Wyoming: $243,310 2. Montana: $239,380 3. Oregon: $234,750 4. Wisconsin: $233,600 5. California: $227,290 6. Iowa: $202,400 7. Massachusetts: $201,890 8. New York: $200,350 9. Illinois: $199,660 10. Connecticut: $198,750 Nurse practitioner 1. California: $138,660 2. Washington: $126,920 3. Hawaii: $124,000 4. New Jersey: $123,810 5. Minnesota: $122,850 6. New York: $122,550 7. Massachusetts: $122,240 8. Wyoming: $118,110 9. Nevada: $115,970 10. Alaska: $115,890 n Urologist's estate pays $1.75M to settle ASC kickback allegations: 4 details By Laura Dyrda T he estate of an urologist agreed to settle allegations he submitted false claims related to lithotripsy proce- dures, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Four details: 1. Patrick Hunter, MD, was accused of performing kidney stone procedures without medical necessity and participat- ing in an illegal kickback arrangement, according to a Jan. 22 news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He submit- ted claims for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy between January 2010 and April 2016 without medical necessity, and in some cases there were no kidney stones present in the patients, prosecutors stated. 2. The federal government also alleged Dr. Hunter per- formed lithotripsy procedures at Orlando Center for Out- patient Surgery in exchange for payments from the center, which violates the Anti-Kickback Statute. 3. Dr. Hunter died in March 2019, and his estate has agreed to pay $1.75 million to resolve claims against him. 4. The allegations arose from a whistleblower lawsuit. The whistleblower will receive $385,000 of the settlement. n 16 physicians exit North Carolina health system By Laura Dyrda S ixteen physicians have plans to leave Mission Health over the next few months, according to a February report in The Transylvania Times. Ten physicians in Transylvania County are leaving the health system, but many plan to continue practicing medicine in the area. Six more physicians also announced plans to leave the health system's Arden, N.C.-based Vista Family Health clinic in April to join Pardee UNC Health Clinic in Arden. Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health is part of HCA Healthcare, based in Nashville, Tenn. This announcement comes on the heels of Pisgah Urology Associates in Brevard deciding in December 2020 not to renew its contract with Mission Health. The health system also terminated the contract of Mark Lemel, MD, an orthopedic surgeon. His contract ends on March 31. Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell told The Transylvania Times that the health system recently signed contracts with three new providers and all primary care locations remain open. n