Becker's ASC Review

19 GASTROENTEROLOGY Gastroenterology gains 1,128 physicians over 5 years By Riz Hatton G astroenterology gained 1,128 active physicians from 2016 to 2021, according to the Association of American Medical College's "Physician Specialty Data Report." The report shows the number of active physicians in 2016 and 2021 and the percentage change between the time periods for 48 specialties. The 1,128 figure represents a 7.8 percent increase in gastroenterologists over five years. n New York gastroenterologist to pay $1.4M for Medicare billing fraud By Patsy Newitt G reat Neck, N.Y.-based gastroenterologist Morris Barnard was sentenced to 30 months in prison and must pay $1.4 million for a Medicare billing fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Jan. 5. In March, Dr. Barnard pleaded guilty to submitting more than $3 million in bills to Medicare for gastroenterological procedures that he never performed. From October 2015 to February 2020, Dr. Barnard billed most of the services as being for disabled beneficiaries living in group homes. Medicare reimbursement roughly $1.4 million of these false claims. n FDA issues Olympus 2 warning letters By Riz Hatton O lympus Medical Systems Corp. and one of its subsidiaries, Aizu Olympus Co., were issued two warning letters by the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health following facility inspections. e warning letters state that there were violations regarding medical device reporting requirements and quality system regulations for endoscopes and endoscope accessories, according to a Jan. 10 news release from the FDA. e CDRH has been involved in Olympus' efforts to address compliance issues regarding the reprocessing of endoscopes. However, during recent inspections, the CDRH concluded that Olympus did not meet requirements to assure the quality and performance of the devices. Olympus also failed to develop medical device reporting procedures and did not submit them within the required timeframes, according to the release. e CDRH is continuing to work with Olympus to ensure the company addresses the violations in the warning letters. n Virginia lawmakers push for greater coverage of colon cancer screening costs By Riz Hatton T he Virginia House of Delegates is pushing to pass a bill that would require health insurance companies to cover all costs for colorectal cancer screenings ABC affiliate WSET reported Jan. 24. Coverage would include follow-up colonoscopies from at-home tests, copays and deductibles. House bill 2356 honors Virginia lawmakers Ronnie Campbell and Donald McEachin, who both died from cancer, according to WSET. "Cancer is not partisan. Really, we just need to do everything we can in our power because this touches everybody, it really does," delegate Ellen Campbell told WSET. n

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