The absorption of physician practices by hospitals and health systems has soared the past decade. According to the Physicians Advocacy Institute, hospital acquisition of practices has increased 128 percent since 2012, jumping from 35,700 to 80,000 practices over five years.

Page Dunlop enjoyed owning Fowler Pharmacy in Hartselle. Her customers were her neighbors. They trusted her, and they knew that she was happy to take the time to answer any questions they might have.

The role of artificial intelligence, or machine learning, will be pivotal as the healthcare industry wrestles with a gargantuan amount of data that could improve - or muddle - health and cost priorities, according to a National Academy of Medicine Special Publication on the use of AI in healthcare.

The American Medical Association is helping physician practices integrate fundamental changes to the coding and documentation of evaluation and management (E/M) office visit services that account for nearly $23 billion in Medicare spending.

In September, the UAB School of Medicine opened the UAB Healthcare Educators Academy.

A new technology developed SVMIC, a medical malpractice insurance company in Tennessee, addresses the growing need for accessible options for navigating office-based care and the administrative responsibilities associated with running a medical practice.

A recent ruling in Rumsey v. Guthrie Med. provides positive support for those providing candid analysis of patient safety events without fear of discovery and all with the intent to improve patient safety and quality of healthcare.

An aging population, sicker patients, move to new models of care, need for new technologies to increase efficiency and a shortage of skilled staff have helped drive provider and executive salaries up over the last few years.

On October 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) issued proposed changes to the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law), the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Beneficiary Inducement Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) law.

When East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) in Opelika knew their cancer center was outgrowing its space, they turned to an architect who had worked with them for over 17 years to help design a state of the art facility with an emphasis on the best medical technology and healing arts.

CMS recently updated regulations for Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to strengthen protections for participants and allow more operational flexibility for providers.

A well-equipped toolbox can be an asset when it comes to demolishing an outdated room in your home in order to allow for a better, newly-improved room to take shape.

With a stated mission to promote excellence in nursing, the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA), seeks to affect policy and promote legislation that will benefit nurses.

In September, the FBI, US Attorney's Office, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, and several local law firms participated in a full day educational summit focused on healthcare fraud.

The term "surprise billing" is used to describe the situation when a patient receives a bill for the difference between the out-of-network provider's fee and the amount covered by the patient's health insurance, after co-pays and deductible.

Cities in Shelby County are among the fastest growing in Alabama. In conjunction with the expanding population, Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster has undergone upgrades and renovations within the hospital as part of a $10 million capital project which was completed in September in conjunction with the 60^th anniversary of the hospital.

In the eighteen months leading up to January 2018, hospitals bought 8,000 medical practices, reports Avalere Health and the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI).

Practice administrators hesitate to seek the help of healthcare consultants out of fear more than a lack of usefulness.

Yesterday, I received a text from my eye doctor informing me that I have not scheduled my yearly exam and need to make an appointment.

Since its establishment in 1986, the National Practitioner Data Bank ("NPDB") has served as a nationwide clearinghouse for information about matters relating to the professional competence of physicians and other practitioners.

The government's 340B drug discount program, which was begun in 1992, has been under the scrutiny of the Administration and Congress for the past two years with ill effects for participating hospitals and the potential for more reform on the horizon.

"I hate to say it, but anything is better than nothing. We're getting slaughtered," says David McCormack, about the potential hospital wage index (area wage index - AWI) increase in Medicare reimbursements.