The FTC and other federal agencies launched a public inquiry to see how physicians, patients and other stakeholders felt about the rising influence of private equity in healthcare. Based on the public comments available online, many in the industry are concerned about the trend's long-term impact on patient care. 

Physician compensation in the United States is up 6% compared to the previous year, according to a new report. It only increased by 3.9% in cardiology, however, suggesting the specialty is slightly behind the curve.

Cardiologist Jerry Blackwell, MD, president and CEO of MedAxiom, believes cardiologist can't just focus on clinical decisions, as they also must be aware the financial ramifications. 

One of the biggest decisions in a cardiologist's life is knowing when, exactly, to start a family. Nandita S. Scott, MD, co-director of the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program at Mass General Hospital, shared her perspective on this important topic. 

Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, one of the leading voices behind efforts to create a new Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about where things stand today.

Hospital employment models, reimbursement policies and private equity have all led to a massive reduction in the number of cardiologists working for a private practice, ACC President Cathie Biga, MSN, told Cardiovascular Business.

The health system, meanwhile, said it stands by its decision to terminate the interventional cardiologist after working with him for several years. 

Physician payments are down slightly across the board, but they've fallen significantly for a handful of specialties. Researchers examined the long-term impact this trend could have on patient care.