Editor's Note Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield recently reversed its controversial plan to impose time limits on anesthesia coverage after intense backlash from the medical community, including anesthesiologists and patient advocates. The policy, aimed at curbing alleged overbilling, would have restricted payments based on average surgery times, a move critics…

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Editor's Note Certain medical bills reclassifying minor procedures as “surgery” are driving up costs and causing confusion among patients, KFF Health News December 13 reports. Cases such as a $414 charge for a splinter removal with tweezers and a $469 charge for freezing a skin tag highlight how CPT codes…

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Editor's Note In a move that could hinder provider-led joint ventures and increase regulatory uncertainty, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department have withdrawn antitrust guidance issued in 2000. Modern Healthcare reported the news on December 16. Passed in a 3-2 vote, the decision eliminates previously relied-upon safe…

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Editor's Note The credit outlook for the nonprofit hospital sector improved from “deteriorating” to “neutral” in Fitch Ratings’ 2025 report, the first revision in more than 2 years. Healthcare Dive reported the news December 11.  According to the outlet, Fitch attributes the shift to “steady improvement” in hospital operating margins,…

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Editor's Note An analysis of trends in body mass index (BMI) and obesity among US adults from 2013 to 2023 reveals a slight but significant decline in obesity prevalence in 2023, marking the first decrease after years of steady increases. The findings are detailed in a December 13 JAMA Health…

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Editor's Note Access to GLP-1 medications is improving as manufacturers, insurers, and policymakers address high demand, costs, and coverage challenges, Becker’s Hospital Review reported December 13. As detailed in the article, Eli Lilly’s partnership with telehealth company Ro now allows patients to obtain Zepbound prescriptions online and receive shipments directly…

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Editor's Note The 2025 OR Manager Conference Program Committee is seeking presentation proposals from passionate perioperative leaders and experts to share their experience October 28-30, 2025, in Anaheim, California.  The OR Manager Conference is the only conference providing education specific to the needs of perioperative leaders in all facility types…

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Editor's Note Demand for skin removal surgeries has risen sharply in the US, fueled by the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, CNN reported December 9. The trend reflects a growing need for procedures that address loose, sagging skin following significant weight loss, particularly as the…

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Editor's Note Radiant air conditioning systems (RAS) provide greater comfort for surgical patients than traditional convection air conditioning systems (CAS), according to a Japanese study detailed in Anesthesiology News December 3.  According to the article, the study was conducted from November 2015 through March 2016 and involved 48 patients scheduled…

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Editor's Note Two recent reports highlight a widening gap in life expectancy between the US and other high-income nations. According to a December 6 article in Healio, the data point to modifiable risk factors and rising obesity rates as key contributors to what experts call a public health crisis. The…

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