A physician at the Atlanta-based firm purportedly spent as few as 30 seconds reviewing reports prepared by overseas readers who weren’t permitted to practice medicine nor bill government healthcare programs. 

With the recent adjustment, the conversion factor is now 1.77% lower than it was in 2023, at $33.2875, consulting firm Healthcare Administrative Partners notes. 

Medicaid’s $50 billion in improper payments was the highest total for a single program—but it was also the most improved government program, cutting about $30 billion from its 2022 improper payments total. 

Only orthopedic surgeons and neurologists/psychiatrists received more industry payments from 2013 to 2022 than cardiologists. Also, the two prescription medications associated with the most physician payments were a blood thinner and an anticoagulant. 

The Evolut FX+ TAVR system includes an updated diamond-shaped frame, which was made four times larger than previous models to offer improved coronary access. It was also designed to provide more space for operators to guide and maneuver the catheter during procedures.

The percentage of patients who received imaging services also declined from 46% in 2010 down to 40% by 2021, experts wrote in Health Affairs Scholar. 

Cardiologists now have two more tools to help them combat PAH, a rare vascular condition that often leads to heart failure.

Transparency firm Fair Health recently analyzed data around this key figure, which represents the highest amount a plan will pay for a covered service.