Medical Journal October 2023 digital edition
October 23, 20231 min
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IRS pauses ERC claims review through end of year
October 23, 20239 min
BY Catherine Lightfoot, CPA, CHBC, Director of Healthcare at EEPB On September 14th, the IRS announced a pause on its review of new Employer Retention Credit (ERC) claims through December 31, 2023. They cited this action to “protect taxpayers from scams” due to a “surge of questionable claims.” How does the new announcement affect you? Many have already reaped the benefits of the ERC program. Others have outstanding claims and are waiting for a...
Potential implications of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Expansion Act on hospital care billing
October 23, 20238 min
BY Kianna Sitarski, Brown & Fortunato, P.C. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, hospitals and other healthcare facilities faced funding and workforce shortages. Predictably, the funding and workforce issues of the industry were further exacerbated by the demands of the pandemic. To help alleviate the financial pressure that many patients, hospitals, and healthcare facilities face, United States Senators Bernie Sanders and Roger Marshall, MD, recently introduced a bill named the Bipartisan...
Employment-based immigration considerations for hiring qualified foreign physicians
October 23, 20238 min
BY Jessica Cook, Partner, Fisher Phillips Texas healthcare employers seeking to hire physicians should explore the J-1 Waiver Program. The J-1 Waiver Program allows employers to hire physicians to work in healthcare facilities in rural and health shortage areas or serve those communities. Under the J-1 Waiver Program, the foreign physician must work for the sponsoring healthcare facility for three years. Therefore, this immigration option can be a great tool to alleviate physician shortages. ...
Rural access is on the ballot this November
October 23, 20236 min
By John Hawkins, President and CEO, THA With no significant federal or state offices up for grabs, most people likely don’t consider this an election year. But, it is – and for healthcare champions, there’s one issue on the ballot particularly worth your participation, which could potentially shape Texas’ healthcare landscape for a long time. On Nov. 7, voters will decide which of 14 Texas constitutional amendments on the ballot will become law....
Botanicals in diabetes management
October 23, 20238 min
BY Elijah Romero, MS3 Student Doctor, Family Medicine, UTMB Introduction With the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the US, there is significant interest in identifying effective diabetes therapies with few side effects. Because of the high cost of many medications, many patients and physicians are exploring alternative botanical treatments that may help with glycemic control. By researching different botanicals’ efficacy in lowering HbA1C levels or fasting blood glucose levels, we may find more healthy alternatives...
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital welcomes urologic oncologist Courtney Chang, M.D.
October 23, 20231 min
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital welcomes urologist Courtney Chang, M.D., who started seeing patients. Chang is joining Laura Martinez, M.D., and Zachary Mucher, M.D., at Houston Methodist Urology Associates in Medical Office Building 2 on the Houston Methodist Sugar Land campus. Chang earned her medical degree and completed her urology residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She pursued a fellowship in urology robotics and oncology at Houston Methodist...
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital welcomes neurosurgeon Christopher Sy, M.D.
October 23, 20232 min
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is pleased to welcome neurosurgeon Christopher Sy, M.D. , to the Houston Methodist Department of Neurosurgery at Sugar Land. Sy treats many neurosurgery conditions, including craniocervical junction disorders, hydrocephalus, brain and spine tumors, and traumatic injuries that affect the brain and spine. He specializes in degenerative diseases and conditions that affect the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, minimally invasive spine surgery, complex revision/reconstructive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, and spinal computer...
Lactate-producing bacteria inside tumors promote resistance to radiation therapy
October 23, 20236 min
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that lactate-producing intratumoral bacteria drive resistance to radiation therapy, suggesting that lactic acid-producing bacteria present in various cancers may serve as novel therapeutic targets. The study reported that a particular bacterial species, Lactobacillus iners (L. iners), caused cancer cells to respond to radiation by rewiring metabolic signaling pathways to resist treatment. The researchers also found that L. iners was associated with poorer clinical outcomes in patients with cervical cancer. “These...
Feds fund Rice-led research that could slash US cancer deaths by 50%
October 23, 20236 min
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded $45 million to rapidly develop sense-and-respond implant technology that could slash U.S. cancer-related deaths by more than 50%. The award to a Rice University-led team of researchers from seven states will fast-track the development and testing of a new approach to cancer treatment that aims to dramatically improve immunotherapy outcomes for patients with ovarian, pancreatic, and other difficult-to-treat cancers. “Instead of tethering patients...