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On Nov. 4, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released final payment rates and policies for physician services and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs).

New consensus recommendations by the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer (CRC) address serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS), which is the most common gastrointestinal polyp syndrome yet is widely underrecognized.

Cook Medical has updated the Hemospray Instructions for Use with steps to improve powder delivery and address endoscope adhesion. Endoscopy units should review the guidance, inform users and return the customer response form.

Joint CMS comment letters warn that proposed CY 2027 Medicare rules would cut GI endoscopy payments, expand administrative requirements, and eliminate key colonoscopy quality measures.

The endorsing societies strongly recommend annual influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible patients, with particular emphasis on populations at increased risk for severe disease and complications, across the lifespan.

Important relief for gastroenterology practices takes effect Oct. 1, 2026. ASGE welcomes UnitedHealthcare’s (UHC) announcement that it will eliminate its advance notification requirement for gastrointestinal endoscopy services effective Oct. 1, 2026.

ASGE recognizes Fujifilm’s generous support of a major technology upgrade at the IT&T Center, bringing advanced endoscopic imaging systems to hands-on training for physicians and fellows and supporting high-quality patient care.

For the first time, ASGE delivered a Spanish-language postgraduate course, marking an important milestone in the Society’s international education strategy and expanding access to ASGE education throughout Latin America.

ASGE has launched the CRC Screening Microgrants Program, a health equity initiative designed to increase timely colonoscopy completion following abnormal stool-based tests (SBT) among medically underserved patients.

The Standards of Practice (SOP) Committee has developed a clinical practice update entitled, “Endoscopic Mucosal Tissue Sampling: ASGE Clinical Practice Update.” The document is available now for review and comment through August 23, 2026.