Becker's ASC Review

29 GASTROENTEROLOGY 4 trends propelling gastroenterology forward By Riz Hatton J ason Richardson, CEO of Gastroenterology of the Rockies in Louisville, Colo., spoke with Becker's to discuss what trends are positively affecting the gastroenterology industry. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: What trends are saving GI? Jason Richardson: Not sure that GI needs or needed saving; how- ever, there are a few tailwinds that are favorable for this specialty. First, the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force releasing their final recommendation on screening colorectal cancer starting at age 45 is favorable and will certainly save lives. Secondly, the U.S. aging demo- graphics will also certainly be favorable to the GI specialty for those seeking preventive screening colonoscopies and therapeutic treat- ments or procedures. irdly, the last couple of years have increased anxieties and stressors within the population. ese lead to digestive health and quality of life issues that oen require GI professionals to assess and treat. Lastly, the workforce issues plaguing hospitals dur- ing the pandemic have led to many nursing and anesthesia staff seek- ing medical-related employment alternatives with more predictable hours. is trend has favored GI practices and endoscopy ASCs. n Young gastroenterologists are 'running away' from private practice, physician says By Patsy Newitt Y oung gastroenterologists are increasingly choos- ing to work for hospitals over going into private practice, but according to Adam Levy, MD, they are missing out on autonomy and future financial gains. Dr. Levy, a gastroenterologist in Macon, Ga., spoke with Becker's ASC Review about the factors driving gastroenter- ologists toward and away from private practice. Editor's note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and brevity. Question: What's driving gastroenterologists to pri- vate practice? Dr. Adam Levy: Many young gastroenterologists are run- ning away from private practice. This is due to the high cost of educational loans and an environment where hos- pitals are offering large salaries to graduates. It is difficult for private practice to compete upfront due to declining reimbursements. However, physicians with longer-term outlooks are coming to private practice because they un- derstand that private practice offers more autonomy and more potential future earnings. The freedom to steer one's practice without a hospital administrator is a key freedom that many physicians desire, and this is available in private practice. Further, ownership in a practice not only allows autonomy, but strong potential financial upside from own- ing additional revenue streams and from potential sale of the practice. Q: Which CMS policies are hurting gastroenterologists the most? AL: Without a doubt, skyrocketing costs are affecting GI pri- vate practices who utilize independent ASCs for endoscopy. Supply costs are at all-time highs, but Medicare ASC reim- bursements do not adjust or offer any flexibility. Labor costs have also risen sharply. Before the inflation seen over the last two years, a typical ASC would hope to break even on a Medicare endoscopic procedure. This is now even more difficult due to cost raises on equipment. When ASCs are no longer profitable or lose money, private practice cannot sustain or recruit. This will only drive more physicians into hospital employment and shift more procedures to the hos- pital, therefore raising overall costs for Medicare. Medicare must improve ASC reimbursement in order to just sustain current ASC operations. n Illinois gastroenterology group reveals data breach By Patsy Newitt G urnee-based Illinois Gastroenterology Group was hit with a network breach in October, the company said April 22. The group said it discovered unusual activity in its com- puter network Oct. 22 and launched an investigation with a third-party cybersecurity group to determine the scope of it. On Nov. 18, it found that an unauthorized party gained access to information in the system. Affected patients may have had their information compro- mised, including name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, driver's license number or state identification card number and financial account information. To date, Illinois Gastroenterology Group said it has not re- ceived any reports of fraudulent use of the potentially af- fected information. n

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