News Briefs
Visa Restrictions Impacting Hospitals Awaiting Foreign Residents
Some hospitals in the U.S. are without essential staff because international doctors who were set to start their medical training were delayed by the Trump administration's travel and visa restrictions. It's unclear exactly how many foreign medical residents were unable to start their assignments, but six medical residents interviewed by The Associated Press say they've undergone years of training and work only to be stopped at the finish line by what is usually a procedural step.
(Source: PBS, 2025-07-04)
READ MORE >
States Ease Licensing Requirements for International Physicians
To address persistent physician shortages in rural America, at least nine states have relaxed rules since 2023 that previously required internationally educated physicians to complete full U.S. residency training before obtaining an unrestricted license. Additionally, another dozen legislatures are considering comparable bills, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards.
(Source: Physician's Weekly, 2025-07-01)
READ MORE >
Healthcare M&A Deal Volumes Steady at $64 Billion
Healthcare merger and acquisition deal volumes have remained steady despite an uncertain regulatory environment, with volumes pacing far ahead of where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new PwC report, there have been 445 announced transactions through May 15, bringing the value of the total number of deals over the past few months to $64 billion.
(Source: Healthcare Finance News, 2025-06-26)
READ MORE >
Hospitals Concerned as Administration Changes 340B Oversight
The HHS wants to move oversight of 340B from the Health Resources and Services Administration to the CMS, a move that could prove negative for the two-thirds of U.S. hospitals that rely on 340B to fund patient services, cover uncompensated care, and, in some cases, keep their doors open. The potential change is putting providers on edge.
(Source: Healthcare Dive, 2025-07-02)
READ MORE >
High Court Preserves Federal Mandate for Preventive Services
The Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring, at least for now, that some 150 million people will continue getting many free, preventive services under the act. Siding with the government, the court upheld the Affordable Care Act, allowing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to continue determining which services will be available free of cost to Americans covered by the Affordable Care Act.
(Source: NPR, 2025-06-27)
READ MORE >
Survey Finds Patients Support AI If They Get More Doctor Time
As artificial intelligence continues making inroads into healthcare, a new national survey suggests patients may be more ready for the technology than physicians might expect -- provided it helps physicians spend less time behind screens and more time face to face. The survey, released June 24 by health IT company ModMed, found that 57 percent of U.S. patients support the use of AI in clinical settings if it leads to more face-to-face interaction with their physicians.
(Source: Medical Economics, 2025-07-01)
READ MORE >
DOJ Charges 324 Defendants in $14.6 Billion Healthcare Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice has completed its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in various healthcare fraud schemes involving more than $14.6 billion. The defendants included 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General's Offices across the U.S., the DOJ said.
(Source: Healthcare Finance News, 2025-07-02)
READ MORE >
Joint Commission Overhauls Hospital Accreditation Process
The Joint Commission has unveiled an overhaul to its healthcare accreditation and certification process that will cut hundreds of requirements for hospitals, streamline patient safety practices, and give stakeholders as well as the public a clearer look into what's expected of an accredited facility. Called "Accreditation 360: The New Standard," the changes are described by the organization as "the most significant, comprehensive evolution of Joint Commission's accreditation process since 1965."
(Source: FierceHealthcare, 2025-06-30)
READ MORE >
Healthcare Organizations Warned About Fraud, Phishing Scams
The FBI and CMS each issued alerts to warn healthcare organizations and the public of ongoing fraud schemes and phishing scams. The agencies have observed criminals impersonating legitimate health insurers and their investigative team members to extract sensitive information from patients.
(Source: Tech Target, 2025-07-01)
READ MORE >
Microsoft AI Tool Outperformed Physicians in Complex Cases
Microsoft has unveiled research showing that its artificial intelligence tool, the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO), significantly outperforms experienced physicians in solving complex diagnostic cases, while also delivering lower associated testing costs. In a head-to-head evaluation using case records from the New England Journal of Medicine, MAI-DxO correctly diagnosed 85.5 percent of the 304 cases -- a rate more than four times higher than a group of 21 U.S. and U.K. physicians, who achieved 20 percent accuracy on average, according to the company.
(Source: Medical Economics, 2025-06-30)
READ MORE >
