State laws restricting abortions and gender-affirming care have created confusion for many physicians as they try to identify the line between essential medicine and legality in a fast-moving political environment.

Alexander Nesbitt, MD, a physician in Williamsport, Pa., is retiring after 40 years of practice, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette reported Nov. 13. 

Physicians and their staff feel increasingly burdened by prior authorization requirements, according to Medscape's "'They're Awful and Impede Patient Care': Medscape Physicians and Prior Authorizations Report 2024."

Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a Dallas physician for illegally providing gender-affirming care to more than a dozen children, marking the third lawsuit over transgender care for minors in the state.

Orlando Health has named three new leaders of hospitals in southwest and west Orange County.

Omaha, Neb.-based CHI Health and Creighton University School of Medicine, also in Omaha, are introducing the nation's first Rural Track Physician Residency program, Fox Nebraska reported Nov. 7.

Physician practices are struggling for survival amid inflation, healthcare consolidation and other market pressures. 

At least 15 physician lawmakers will serve in Congress after the Nov. 5 election, with the possibility of three more in races currently too close to call, Medscape Medical News reported Nov. 7. 

Six physicians joined Becker's to discuss the impact of recent 2.83% physician pay cuts finalized by CMS, sharing their concerns about how these reductions could affect the healthcare system, physician practices and patient care.

Chase Howard, a healthcare attorney with Bochner PLLC, said the average physician employment contract spans more than 20 pages, according to a Nov. 6 Medscape Medical News article.

As consolidation continues to grow throughout healthcare and the future of independent practice becomes more uncertain, here are four physicians innovating the field with new business models and approaches to practice development:

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health acquired a 200-physician group from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina.

A federal court in Indianapolis dismissed a lawsuit filed against Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health by a physician whose medical privileges were terminated at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, The Indiana Lawyer reported Nov. 4.

A Jacksonville, Fla., physician has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars' worth of donations intended for Hurricane Helene victims in Buncombe County, Fla., and selling some to a pawn shop, Queen City News reported Nov. 5. 

David Caldwell, MD, an oncologist and hematologist in Freeport, Maine, has died at 70, according to a Nov. 4 obituary published by the Danville Register & Bee. 

A Clinton Township, Mich., physician and pharmacist have agreed to pay a total of $700,948 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act.

Physicians are feeling increasingly burdened by prior authorization requirements, according to Medscape's 2024 "'They're Awful and Impede Patient Care': Medscape Physicians and Prior Authorizations Report 2024."

A Columbus physician and his medical clinic were found guilty of overbilling Medicaid by $1.5 million.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a second physician for allegedly violating state law by providing gender-affirming care to minors, The Texas Tribune reported Oct. 30.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House introduced a bill to reverse the proposed 2.8% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cut, MedPage Today reported Oct. 29.