Biga, who originally trained as a nurse, specializes in the business side of cardiology. She also emphasized the increasing importance of AI and other new technologies. 

The doctor, 76, admitted to billing multiple insurance providers for office visits that never happened at all.

In addition, cardiologists average an additional $75,000 per year in incentive-based bonuses. That number is only higher for two other specialties. 

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open. 

Only orthopedic surgeons and neurologists/psychiatrists received more industry payments from 2013 to 2022 than cardiologists. Also, the two prescription medications associated with the most physician payments were a blood thinner and an anticoagulant. 

President Joe Biden signed a funding bill worth $460 billion on March 9, but it only included partial relief for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and other cardiology professionals. 

Ken Rosenfield, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, and William Gray, MD, of Lankenau Heart Institute, detailed the long-term impact of a key policy shift. 

Researchers explored the costs associated with CABG at more than 500 U.S. hospitals.