Article: Physician Appointment Wait Times Climb: 4 Survey Findings

June 2, 2025

Article: Physician Appointment Wait Times Climb: 4 Survey Findings

Anew AMN Healthcare survey published May 27 found it now takes an average of 31 days to schedule a physician appointment in 15 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas – up 19% from 2022 and 48% from 2004.

AMN Healthcare conducted the survey of 1,391 physician offices in January and February. It highlights ongoing challenges related to scheduling physician appointments.

The survey, which focused on six medical specialties, gathered data from offices across:

  • The Atlanta,
  • Boston,
  • Dallas,
  • Denver,
  • Detroit,
  • Houston,
  • Los Angeles,
  • Miami,
  • Minneapolis,
  • New York City,
  • Philadelphia,
  • Portland, Ore.,
  • San Diego,
  • Seattle, and
  • Washington, D.C., areas.

Four Key Findings:

  • It now takes an average of 31 days to schedule a physician appointment in the metropolitan areas’ surveys.
    • In 2022, the last year the survey was conducted, it took 26 days.
    • In 2004, the first year the survey was conducted, it took 21 days.
  • Average wait times for physician appointments differ by specialty:
    • OB-GYN: 42 days – a 33% increase from 2022 and a 79% increase since 2004.
    • Gastroenterology: 40 days – this marks the first year gastroenterology is part of the survey.
    • Dermatology: 36.5 days – up 6% since 2022 and a 74% increase from 2004.
    • Cardiology: 33 days – a 23% increase from 2022 and a 74% increase from 2004.
    • Family medicine: 23.5 days – up 14% from 2022 and a 16% from 2009, the first year this specialty was added to the survey.
    • Orthopedic surgery: 12 days – down from both 2022 and 2004.
  • Among metropolitan areas surveyed, Boston had the longest average physician appointment wait time at 65 days, and Atlanta had the shortest at 12 days.
  • More than half of physician offices surveyed accept Medicaid (53%), compared with 82% that accept Medicare.

Click Here to View Full Report

An Introduction to the St. Louis PTC – STI/HIV Prevention Training Center

June 2, 2025

An Introduction to the St. Louis PTC – STI/HIV Prevention Training Center

The St. Louis PTC is a federally funded program through the National Network of Prevention Training Centers to educate and train on all things STI & HIV. They are the Midwest PTC covering Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska & Kansas.

How they can help you in your STI & HIV programs:

  • Multiple eLearning opportunities, ranging in topic & length, including a 2-day STI Intensive that covers A-Z on updated guidelines on STIs & HIV,
  • Personalized trainings for individual health departments, counties or regions, which can be done through:
  • A virtual platform
  • In-person
  • Hybrid
  • Combination of in-person and hybrid

The Clinical Consult Network (CCN) – A free, online, form for clinicians to submit their questions regarding STI/HIV treatment & care. Click Here to go to CCN.

This is a FREE service; all of the courses are free and CMEs for MDs & DOs are available.

Please consider taking a moment to complete this quick Needs Assessment regarding the biggest issues involving STI & HIV care. The results of this survey will be used to plan upcoming courses and identify areas of focus.

Click Here to complete needs assessment.

Click Here to Visit website

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 10

June 2, 2025

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 10

Apply to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. Eligible substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program.

Apply by July 10.

Click Here to Learn More

Faculty Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 3

June 2, 2025

Faculty Loan Repayment Program, Apply by July 3

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program application is open now through July 3. Eligible faculty members can apply to the Faculty Loan Repayment Program. HRSA will repay a portion of a recipient’s health professional student loan debt ($40,000 max over two years). In return, a recipient will serve at an eligible health professions school.

Click Here to Learn More

National Health Service Corps New Site Application, Apply by June 17

June 2, 2025

National Health Service Corps New Site Application, Apply by June 17

Eligible health care facilities can apply to become National Health Service Corps (NHSC)-approved sites.

NHSC-approved sites provide outpatient, comprehensive primary health care services to people. They are located in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

As an NHSC-approved site, eligible clinicians can apply for NHSC Loan Repayment Programs, and sites can hire NHSC Scholars or Students to Service participants. Sites can also post job opportunities and access on the Health Workforce Connector.

Apply by June 17.

Click Here to Learn More

New Guidance for Hospital Price Transparency

May 29, 2025

New Guidance for Hospital Price Transparency

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance on how hospitals should calculate the estimated allowed amount values for their online machine-readable files as part of the Hospital Price Transparency requirements.

Whenever possible, hospitals should:

  • Use electronic remittance data to determine the average dollar amount received over the last 12-month period.
    • If there is no historic data, hospitals should use the expected payment amount, encoded as a dollar figure.
  • Hospitals will no longer be able to use a code of nine number nines to signify that there was not sufficient historic data for that item or service over the last year.

Click Here to View Entire Guidance Document

Webinar: Medicare Care Management Billing Strategies, May 30

May 29, 2025

Webinar: Medicare Care Management Billing Strategies, May 30

This webinar will discuss new Medicare care management billing codes that can support care coordination and help your organization improve quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries. The presenters will discuss actionable steps to help your organization plan for and implement these billing codes.

Cost: Free

When: Friday, May 30, 11:00 a.m. (approximately 75 minutes)

Click Here to Register

ERS Article: Rural Populations are Shifting Older

May 29, 2025

ERS Article: Rural Populations are Shifting Older

The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports on recent data showing that the number of rural people of working age (between 15 and 64 years old) has fallen in recent years, dropping to 28 million in 2023 from more than 30 million in 2010. At the same time, the number of rural residents aged 65 years and over grew from 7.4 million in 2010 to 9.7 million in 2023.

Click Here to Read Article

Webinar: Navigating Rising Costs & Budget Cuts: A Strategic Approach to Healthcare Facility Management, June 24

May 28, 2025

Webinar: Navigating Rising Costs & Budget Cuts: A Strategic Approach to Healthcare Facility Management, June 24

Budget reductions, cost escalation and uncertain capital markets are pressuring operational leaders to do more with less.

To move from reaction to strategic response, leading facility teams are reframing cost challenges into opportunities for strategic planning, resource optimization and capital preservation.

From data-driven planning to stakeholder alignment, join this session for clear, practical lessons – not vague cost-cutting tips.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to prepare your facility plan for the next round of budget reductions,
  • Tactics to safeguard essential infrastructure with limited funding, and
  • Strategies to position facilities as enterprise value drivers – not cost centers.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, June 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Webinar: The Rural Health Center Landscape: Data, Challenges and Insights, June 10

May 28, 2025

Webinar: The Rural Health Center Landscape: Data, Challenges and Insights, June 10

Across America, rural health centers work tirelessly to combat persistent barriers to care, such as lack of transportation, geographic isolation, and shortage of healthcare professionals and facilities.

This webinar will review the current financial landscape of rural health centers and identify the most common obstacles to care for rural residents. Utilizing health center financial audit data and operational and utilization data reported by the Uniform Data System (UDS).

In addition, there will be a Q&A with special guest speaker William Edwards, CFO of G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center in Mississippi who will offer his own perspective on the current financial challenges and opportunities rural health centers face.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, June 10, 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register