Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, streamlining both clinical and administrative processes. From enhancing diagnostic accuracy to automating administrative tasks, AI has...

Earlier this week, the Trump administration paused federal grants, loans, and other programs as part of a broader federal spending review. Amid uncertainty over the funding freeze, Medicaid...

On January 21, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a directive instructing federal health agencies to temporarily pause external communications. According to a memo from...

In this week’s Zotec Answers podcast episode, Ed Gaines, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Industry Liaison for Zotec Partners, explores the latest updates regarding the No Surprises Act...

Medicare reimbursement cuts are threatening the stability of physicians and the healthcare system as a whole. For the fifth consecutive year, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has...

On January 7, 2025, the Biden-Harris administration announced a final rule eliminating all medical debt from credit reports. Historically, medical bills have been a leading cause of debt, with...

AI is making waves in healthcare, assisting in everything from predicting patient outcomes to streamlining administrative tasks. However, maintaining these AI systems is not as simple as setting them...

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the Biden administration announced a final rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. This rule will...

At the 2024 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, Mark Isenberg, Executive Vice President of Healthcare Advocacy at Zotec Partners, had an insightful conversation with Dave...

On December 20, 2024, just hours before the funding deadline, Congress passed the American Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 10545), a year-end funding bill with significant healthcare implications. However,...

Thank You for an Incredible 2024! As the year comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you – our advocates and supporters. Your commitment and engagement have been...

As we wrap up 2024, we want to take a moment to reflect on this year and the impact we were able to make because of you – our incredible advocate base. None of this would have been possible without...

As the 118th session of Congress draws to a close, we bid farewell to several esteemed members of the Doctors Caucus. Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Michael Burgess...

On December 2, 2024, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced a controversial policy in Connecticut, Missouri, and New York, denying reimbursement to anesthesia providers for the complete duration of...

Congress is just 10 days from the government funding deadline and the final day of the 118th Congressional session. With limited time remaining, Congress must address their packed agenda before...

As Congress reconvenes for the final stretch of the 118th session of Congress, lawmakers face a packed agenda with just a few weeks left before the December 20 funding deadline. Along with passing a...

As we have explored throughout this blog series, AI has the power to impact healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and reduce administrative tasks for physicians. The same is true for...

The United States is grappling with a critical physician shortage, projected to reach 64,000 by the end of this year and potentially escalate to 86,000 by 2036. This issue stems from several factors:...

Last week, we explored how radiology is leveraging AI for enhanced imaging, early detection, and streamlining administrative burdens. But radiology is not the only specialty exploring and...

The availability of high-quality healthcare for Medicare patients is increasingly at risk. Over the last 20 years, Medicare reimbursement has decreased by 29 percent when adjusted for inflation...

Radiology has been a leader in implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with its first use dating back to 1992 to detect microcalcifications in mammograms. In the last decade, AI has...

Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2024 general election! Over the past several months, we have encouraged informed voting at every level, sharing insights on key ballot measures and issues...

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has been at the forefront of challenging aspects of the No Surprises Act (NSA), now with its third lawsuit, TMA III, building on previous cases aimed at ensuring...

On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule, set to take effect January 1, 2025. This new rule...

Election Day is less than 24 hours away! Tomorrow, make your voice count by voting not only in the presidential race but in all the vital down-ballot elections. The leaders elected tomorrow will...

As Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month wraps up, it is time to turn awareness into action. In the United States: 1 in 8 women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime – that is about...

The November general election is just days away, making now the time to prepare to vote. This year’s ballot includes not only the presidential race but also crucial federal, state, and local...

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime?  In observation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you have a chance to make a difference for women across the...

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare can revolutionize the healthcare industry, offering innovative solutions and updating traditional practices. AI, once a buzzword, is now here to...

With Election Day quickly approaching on November 5, this is a great time to take a moment to confirm your voter registration, find your polling place, and explore early voting options in your state...

Over the past few weeks, there have been several developments regarding the No Surprises Act (NSA). First, in Congress, the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act (H.R. 9572) was introduced by Rep...

As we recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is essential to highlight the critical advances in early detection and legislative efforts aimed at improving patient outcomes. Early...

With just 28 days until the 2024 general election, the stakes for the healthcare industry and physicians are high. Medicare reimbursement rates are at a tipping point; this year’s cuts would mark the...

As of April 2023, states resumed the process of redetermining Medicaid eligibility, marking the end of pandemic-era protections that paused disenrollments. Over the past several months, more than 25...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCA), and there's no better time to make a difference by supporting the Find It Early Act. This critical legislation aims to provide nationwide insurance...

California’s healthcare system is facing significant challenges, including hospital closures, overcrowded emergency departments, and underfunding for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program that...

The physician shortage is a critical issue that has been highlighted on this blog and is projected to worsen in the coming years. A recent survey found that 35 percent of physicians are likely to...

Last week, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., along with a bipartisan group of physicians and healthcare advocates in Congress, introduced the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act (HR 9572), a critical...

The ongoing decline in Medicare physician reimbursement rates poses a critical challenge for physicians across the country. The proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) includes a 2...

For years, the threat of a physician shortage has lingered on the horizon, often viewed as a distant problem. However, recent reports confirm that this is no longer a distant threat – it is an...

Bad payor policies, particularly in Medicare and Medicaid, have created significant challenges for physicians.  The introduction of commercial carriers into government programs was intended to...

As discussed in previous blog posts, the healthcare industry will be losing four influential physician leaders in Congress at the end of this Congressional session in January. The Congressional...

Healthcare leaders are acutely aware of how policies influence their work, yet the process behind these decisions is often less visible. Election outcomes are crucial, as they determine who will make...

The United States is facing a physician shortage that could have significant implications for healthcare access and quality, with lasting impacts on physicians and patients alike. The American...

State legislatures have been actively addressing the challenges posed by prior authorization in healthcare, with ten states passing significant reform laws in 2024 alone. These reforms, backed by...

Since the No Surprises Act (NSA) was implemented, several lawsuits have challenged how the federal government has interpreted the law. Most recently, on August 2, 2024, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court...

For many American families, the high cost of healthcare is more than just a financial concern; it is a barrier to receiving necessary healthcare services. Polling by KFF earlier this year shows that...

As the November general election approaches, we are currently in a lame-duck session of Congress. Lawmakers are out on their August recess, either campaigning or taking a break from the fast pace of...

In 2024, emergency physicians are grappling with growing challenges as major health insurance companies, specifically UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna, continue to use...

It is estimated that by 2036, the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians, leading to significant challenges for patients trying to access timely care. As this...

A recent survey by the Commonwealth Fund highlights a concerning trend: almost half of insured Americans are getting hit with surprise medical bills, often for charges that should have been covered...

Now, more than ever, physicians are struggling to be fairly reimbursed for the care they provide. This issue can be attributed to an increased financial burden on patients, coupled with policies by...

While all election years are important, presidential election years receive the most attention, with constant coverage on social media and mainstream news outlets. This intense focus can make it easy...

A question once considered rare and alarming may soon become a routine inquiry for millions of Americans: Is there a doctor in the house? As patients struggle to access healthcare, often facing long...

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This marks the fifth consecutive year...

In Part I of this blog post, we explored the background of the Chevron Doctrine, setting the stage for a discussion on how its reversal impacts healthcare. If you have not read Part I yet, be sure to...

The Supreme Court’s reversal of the Chevron deference in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) has significant implications for critical healthcare issues. For the past 40 years, the Chevron...

On July 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), released the much-anticipated Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. In the coming days and...

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) landmark decision in April 2024 to largely ban noncompete agreements is currently on hold following an injunction issued by a Texas federal court. The FTC had...

As November approaches, it is crucial for every American to understand the profound impact their votes have on the future of healthcare in our nation. Healthcare policy affects us all personally,...

The No Surprises Act (NSA), passed by Congress in 2020, was designed to protect Americans from large, unexpected medical bills, particularly those incurred during medical emergencies when a patient’s...

As we approach the end of this Congressional term and the 2024 general election, civic engagement is more crucial than ever. Your vote will have an impact on key healthcare issues, such as the...

In anticipation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) releasing proposed modifications and updates to Medicare payment rates and policies in the coming weeks, it is crucial to understand the...

Imagine a patient with a serious health condition waiting for weeks to receive treatment approval while their health declines. This scenario is all too common due to prior authorization requirements,...

The Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA) has released data dissecting compliance and other metrics surrounding the No Surprises Act (NSA) since it was first implemented in...

The recent white paper by the United States Senate Finance Committee highlights the stark reality that Medicare physician reimbursement has declined by 20 percent between 2001 and 2021. Physicians...

In today’s complex healthcare landscape, surprise medical bills are a harsh reality – even for those entrenched in the healthcare industry. Recently, Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, the former Surgeon General...

As the second leading cause of death in the United States for women, breast cancer requires our urgent attention. Women undergoing breast cancer screenings and diagnostic procedures should not have...

The healthcare policy arena is complex, but especially so in an election year. Even though this lame duck session of Congress is starting to wind down, the need for legislation still exists. As some...

The United States healthcare landscape has challenges for both patients and physicians alike. Patients often encounter unforeseen financial burdens due to ambiguous billing practices and...

The “2024 Physician Compensation Report,” highlights a critical issue: the U.S. is facing a significant physician shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), there is...

We are less than six months away from the 2024 general elections, and the results will directly impact the business of healthcare, patients, and providers everywhere. Key issues include fixing a...

In a move towards modernizing Medicare, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Mike Crapo have unveiled a white paper discussing the critical issue of physician reimbursement...

The April 2024 final ruling by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), largely banning noncompete agreements, has significant implications for all businesses, but particularly for healthcare. In a 3-2...

Recent discussions have shed light on limitations in Medicare and other payer policies regarding breast imaging tests for asymptomatic women, particularly those with dense breasts. Major changes to...

Last week, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new recommendations for breast cancer screenings, advising women to start regular mammograms at 40 years old instead of...

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This Act mandated that Medicaid programs maintain individuals’ enrollment until the...

The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury have introduced an automated process to simplify the resubmission of Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) disputes. This new...

The Indiana primary elections are next Tuesday, May 7. There are several Indiana seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate that are up for grabs due to retirements and changes in...

In the complex world of healthcare policy, the No Surprises Act (NSA) has become a prominent discussion topic since its inception on January 1, 2022. With stakeholders expressing concerns and legal...

Issues surrounding Medicare reimbursement have been at the forefront of healthcare discussions in 2024. With several A to ZPAC blog posts and Zotec Answers podcast episodes dedicated to the topic,...

Zotec Partner’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Industry Liaison, Ed Gaines, was awarded the 2024 Global Achievement Award from the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA). This...

The Indiana primary election is less than a month away, and it is more important than ever to vote! Voting not only amplifies your voice but also provides citizens with the chance to shape state and...

As we approach the 2024 presidential election, healthcare costs remain a critical issue for Americans. Regardless of political affiliation, nearly three-quarters (74%) of adults worry about affording...

In our latest Zotec Answers podcast, Mark Isenberg, EVP of Health Advocacy for Zotec Partners, sat down with Christopher Crancer, SVP of Radiology and Public Policy Partnerships and Executive...

In a recent report by Fair Health, trends in health insurers’ maximum allowed amount for healthcare services were analyzed, revealing interesting insights, specifically for radiology. While most...

In a recent report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), it was revealed that Medicare Advantage plans are overspending taxpayer dollars by a staggering $83 billion annually...

Ensuring access to quality emergency medical care is paramount, regardless of location or demographics. However, recent discussions in Congress have shed light on the hurdles rural communities face...

As we bid farewell to several esteemed members of the Doctors Caucus at the end of the year, we acknowledge their significant contributions to healthcare legislation. Representatives Larry Bucshon of...

Medicare, the backbone of healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, offers a safety net, yet the financial strain it imposes cannot be ignored. In 2022, the financial strain of health care...

With the recent enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4633), Medicare physicians received a partial year fix for the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS). However, this fix...

Late last week, Congress passed a minibus package as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366). This bill was signed into law by the President on March 9, 2024, and includes some...

Following the release of details of the healthcare minibus spending package earlier this week, it is important to understand how this package will impact healthcare. Did you know almost 20% of the...

Last week, behind closed-door negotiations, leadership agreed to a slim-down healthcare minibus spending package. Details of this package as they relate to the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS)...

In January 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the implementation of a new add-on code, G2211. This code is intended to acknowledge the costs associated with...

In February 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the suspension of the Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (AUC) program for radiology. This...

In 2023, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a 3.4% cut to Medicare physician payment that went into effect January 1, 2024. Congress now has until March 8, 2024, to avert a...

Our Advocacy team worked diligently last year to help solve enrollment issues with California Medicare (Medi-Cal). Significant funds were recovered from Medi-Cal, which was a win for California...

Last week, 15 major Indiana employers announced the launch of the Indiana Business Health Collaborative (IBHC). This is a unique partnership between health care industry stakeholders and Indiana...

In 2023, Texas federal courts made several rulings to ensure that all guidelines surrounding the No Suprises Act (NSA) - Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process were to be carried out as...

Please refer to Part I of this blog and podcast for important context.  Recently, several states have been in the spotlight for their attempts to undermine clinician reimbursement, specifically...

In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to protect patients’ access to emergency medical care, regardless of their ability to pay. More than a decade later,...

The 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule, released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), provides for a 3.4% decrease in physician reimbursement for 2024, which...

The American Medical Association (AMA) released their survey, Physician Practice Information Survey, in July 2023, yet despite their efforts, the response rate to this survey has been extremely low...

On Monday, January 22, 2024, the Indiana House of Representatives voted to pass Indiana House Bill (HB) 1058 for breast cancer screening and related services. This bill moves onto the Indiana Senate...

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Biden administration finalized a rule to streamline Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored health plans’ use of prior authorization. This...

Just this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a regulation asserting its right to financially penalize states that don't follow federal rules regarding...

Take Action Now! https://www.votervoice.net/ZOTEC/Campaigns/109419/RespondThe recent release of the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

Healthcare debt mitigation has far-reaching implications for physicians and their practices. In recent years, the ever-increasing cost of healthcare has resulted in significant financial pressures...

Recently, President Biden stood with the United Auto Workers members (9/26) on picket lines outside of Detroit and urged them to continue their fight for a fair and deserved 40% pay raise. The auto...

On September 19, 2023, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the flawed implementation of the No Surprises Act (NSA). Many lawsuits have resulted from the failed implementation of the...