At the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, Forbes updated its annual list of the richest people in the world, which includes 34 U.S. healthcare billionaires in 2024 and five individuals who hold medical degrees. 

Health systems nationwide are reinstating mask mandates for patients and physicians as cases of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus continue to surge. 

Healthcare is an evolving industry at the forefront of innovation, whether that be via technology, new surgical techniques or breakthrough therapies.

Kansas and South Dakota are the least expensive states for a standard visit to a physician, with the cost of basic office visits ranging from $82-$125, according to data from insurance company Sidecar Health's care calculator. 

Alaska is the most expensive state for a standard visit to a physician, with basic office visits costing from $112-$172, according to data from insurance company Sidecar Health's care calculator. 

A West Lake Hills, Texas-based physician-owned hospital, The Hospital at Westlake, has closed its emergency department months after filing for bankruptcy, according to a statement on the hospital's Facebook page.

Here are nine court cases involving physicians to know, as reported by Becker's since Dec. 4:

New York City-based NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Bronxville, N.Y.-based Sarah Lawrence College are piloting a master's program in genome health analysis.

Staff recruitment and retention and anesthesia coverage are among the top priorities for operating room leaders headed into 2024, according to a Dec. 22 report from ORManager based on a November/December survey conducted by the website. 

As physician burnout and turnover remains high, organizations continue looking for ways to keep employees satisfied. 

CMS made changes to healthcare policy in 2023 that are set to change many facets of care in 2024.

Total Access Urgent Care agreed to pay more than $9.1 million to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare. 

From leadership moves to layoffs, here are 13 Optum moves that physician leaders should know that Becker's reported on in 2023:

A surgery team at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland performed the system's first surgical removal of a herniated disc without the use of general anesthesia.

Healthcare policy legislation has been in the spotlight for much of 2023, including issues related to reimbursement, advanced practice provider supervision requirements and payer policies. 

Forty-six percent of physicians said they expect retiring from medicine to feel like losing a part of their identity, according to a survey by Medscape. 

While the COVID-19 public health emergency status has faded away, the pandemic's effects on the healthcare workforce has not.

Bed constraints, supply chain issues and staffing shortages are among the many challenges physicians may face in 2024.

A financial adviser in West New York, N.J., was found guilty on 11 counts in connection with a $4 million healthcare insurance fraud scheme. 

The American Medical Association has identified the insurance industry giants with the largest shares of the commercial health insurance, Medicare Advantage and public health exchange markets in 2023.