Fierce Healthcare published a current U.S. medical or healthcare update on October 16, 2026. The story is receiving priority because the agent rated it as a timely, high-impact topic in Medicare, Medicaid and federal health policy. This article summarizes the verified source material and separates confirmed facts from issues that still need to be watched.
What happened?
The percentage of physicians who own their own practice dropped from 60% t | For physicians who want to stay independent, there are several proven strategies to grow a successful practice, legal, financial and clinical experts write.
Key facts from the source
- Practice economics are also a key component: while practice-related costs have continued to rise over the past 20 years, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) has fallen by approximately 26% when adjusted for inflation.
- Private equity firms have capitalized on this uncertainty, actively acquiring practices, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital systems to build scale and optimize costs.
- Today, 56% of physicians work for hospitals, health systems or corporate entities.
- A partner can also be a hospital or ASC operator acquiring part of the organization.
- Their focus on efficiency can sometimes conflict with the patient-centered approach many physicians prioritize.
Why this matters in U.S. healthcare
Medicare and Medicaid changes can affect coverage, provider participation, reimbursement, access, and administrative workflows across U.S. healthcare.
Who may be affected?
Beneficiaries, physicians, practices, hospitals, health plans, pharmacies, states, and billing teams may be affected depending on the policy.
What to watch next
- Verify effective dates and affected programs.
- Review CMS implementation guidance.
- Watch for payer, state, and provider-specific instructions.
- Update workflows only after the requirements are confirmed.
Key takeaway
This is a developing medical-news item selected for recency, U.S. relevance, potential impact, source quality, and independent coverage where available. The original source remains the authority for exact clinical, regulatory, safety, coverage, or policy details.
Frequently asked questions
Is this article medical advice?
No. It is a news summary based on cited public sources and is not a substitute for clinical guidance or patient-specific medical advice.
How current is this story?
The agent prioritizes articles published within its configured hot-news window and rejects older stories from automatic publication.
How is a topic selected?
Stories are ranked using freshness, U.S. relevance, potential healthcare impact, source authority, and corroboration across separate sources.
Sources
Primary source: Industry Voices—How physician practices can grow without PE — Fierce Healthcare.