As artificial intelligence becomes more common in healthcare, several lawsuits are testing who may be responsible when AI is involved in decisions or guidance related to patient care, insurance coverage and clinical operations. Becker’s highlighted three cases that illustrate some of the legal and compliance questions emerging around healthcare AI: Resource: 4 lawsuits testing where AI accountability lands in healthcare
The American Nurses Association (ANA) has formally recognized several new nursing specialties in recent years, reflecting the growing need for specialized knowledge and skills across healthcare. ANA recognition establishes a defined scope of practice and standards for each specialty, which can help guide education, credentialing and staffing. The newest specialties recognized by ANA include: The development of these specialties reflects a broader shift toward formalizing specialized nursing expertise and creating clearer standards for training, credentialing and practice….
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Emergency department diagnoses of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) have increased as healthcare providers gain a more accurate way to identify and track the condition. CHS can cause recurring nausea, severe vomiting and abdominal pain and is most commonly associated with frequent cannabis use. According to a recent CDC report, emergency department diagnoses increased after a dedicated ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome was introduced last fall. Researchers noted that the condition may have been underrecognized in the past…
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Major CPT Changes Coming to Maternity Care in 2027 Beginning January 1, 2027, significant changes to CPT maternity care coding will change how obstetric services are reported. The long-standing global maternity care model is being replaced with more detailed reporting by antepartum care, labor management, delivery and postpartum care. What’s Changing? What Practices Should Do Now The changes will require practices to take a closer look at their documentation, coding, charge capture and revenue cycle processes before 2027. Practices…
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Healthcare organizations across the country are closing departments or discontinuing services as they respond to financial pressures, staffing challenges and changes in patient demand. Becker’s recently highlighted dozens of hospital service changes, including several affecting labor and delivery and pediatric care: These changes reflect broader challenges hospitals are facing as they balance financial sustainability, workforce availability and demand for healthcare services. Resource: 49 hospitals closing departments or ending services
The nation’s largest health insurers reported their second-quarter 2026 earnings between mid-July and early August, with five of the six major insurers reporting higher profits compared with the same period last year. Here’s how they ranked by Q2 profit: UnitedHealth Group ranked first by Q2 profit and also moved up to become the fourth-largest company globally on the Fortune Global 500 list. Elevance Health was the only insurer among the six to report a year-over-year decline in…
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Nurse practitioner compensation continues to grow, with the average annual salary reaching more than $137,000 and seven specialties now averaging at least $150,000. Becker’s Physician Leadership highlighted these 10 compensation trends for 2026: The data provides a snapshot of how NP compensation varies by location, specialty and industry, giving healthcare organizations additional context when evaluating workforce and compensation trends. Resource: 10 stats on nurse practitioner pay to know in 2026
As healthcare moves further toward value-based care, physician leaders are questioning whether the Stark Law, which was designed around a traditional fee-for-service system, still fits the way care is delivered and reimbursed today. Becker’s highlighted five physician perspectives on the issue: Resource: Stark law vs. the value-based care transition
Resource: MLN Connects® Newsletter
CMS is asking MIPS-reporting practices to complete a voluntary survey about their experience with MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), whether they reported an MVP for 2025, are preparing for 2026, or have not yet adopted an MVP. The survey takes about 15 minutes, and eligible clinicians may receive Improvement Activity credit for participating. CMS also expects to release 2025 MIPS final scores by late September 2026, followed by the Targeted Review period for practices that believe their…
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CMS has released the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System Final Rule, which includes a 2.4% payment rate increase for SNFs beginning in fiscal year 2027. The rule also finalizes several updates to the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (QRP), including the removal of two COVID-19 vaccination measures, a shorter data submission timeframe beginning in FY 2029, and a new requirement for SNFs to submit Minimum Data Set (MDS) information for all residents…
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Ozwell AI (formerly BlueHive AI) is an AI-powered medical assistant that integrates with WebChart to help practices streamline documentation, automate routine tasks, and improve workflow efficiency without disrupting existing processes. Through its WebChart integration, providers can take advantage of features such as real-time medical transcription, AI-generated clinical notes, interactive voice response (IVR), and workflow automation directly within their EHR environment. Ozwell also offers virtual patient support for appointment scheduling, medication reminders, and patient education, along with clinical…
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