Press Releases
2003
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December 2, 2003
FASA Endorses JCAHO's Universal Protocol
While all indications are that wrong site surgery in ASCs
is extremely rare, FASA is joining the JCAHO, AMA, AHA,
AORN, and ACS, and numerous other health care providers to
endorse the JCAHO's Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong
Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery because we
believe the goal should be to avoid all wrong site surgery.
Download Full Text in Microsoft Word
More on the Universal Protocol
November 25, 2003
Congress Misses Opportunity to Save Medicare Funds
FASA is disappointed that Congress has lost another
opportunity to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness
in the Medicare program. While throwing billions of
dollars at addressing the problems of some providers,
Congress has reduced ambulatory surgery center (ASC)
payments below levels paid in fiscal year 2003 and then
frozen payments at that lower level through the end of the
decade.
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June 19, 2003
Four Women Honored for Role in Building FASA
In a special ceremony at its recent annual membership meeting, FASA honored four remarkable women who had played a major role in developing FASA into the premier organization representing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). This Founding Mothers award ceremony was held on Mother’s Day during the 5th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery, co-hosted by the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association (FASA) and the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA).
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June 3, 2003
ASC List is Obsolete
In comments submitted on a final rule published on March 28 by CMS updating the procedures that Medicare will reimburse ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) for performing, FASA urged CMS to abandon use of the list that serves only to deny Medicare beneficiaries’ access to ASCs.
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FASA's Comments submitted 5/27/03
Final Rule on ASC List published 3/28/03
Regulatory Requirements for Procedures Reimbursed by Medicare in ASCs
March 27, 2003
FASA Applauds CMS Additions of Procedures to the ASC List
A final rule that will be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register will add 282 procedures to the list of procedures that Medicare reimburses when provided in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
Full text (PDF)
March 26, 2003
FASA Past President Testifies Before FTC & Department of Justice
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March 21, 2003
5th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery
On May 8 - 11th, 2003 the 5th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery will be held in Boston. This year's meeting, Making a World of Difference Through Ambulatory Surgery, marks the first time the International Congress, which is the official meeting of the International Association on Ambulatory Surgery, has been held in the US. FASA is a co-host of this meeting.
The four-day meeting offers 70 sessions including clinical, technical, management, ethical, legal, and professional and staff development topics all related to ambulatory surgery. As the largest meeting in the ambulatory surgery industry, the Congress will provide to all involved in the industry - physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, administrative staff, and owners - the opportunity to network and share their knowledge with ambulatory surgery professionals from across the USA and around the world.
Presenters will be from 10 countries, including the US, the UK, France, Australia, and Spain.
Topics include HIPAA for Boards of Directors and Owners, Chiropractors and ASCs, Business and Clinical Considerations in Breast Surgery, Enhancing Your Profitability Using GI Procedures, ASC Compliance Update, International Choices in Accreditation and Choices in ASC Accreditation.
For more information, please visit the 5th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery web site at http://www.iaascongress.org or download the Program (PDF).
Press passes are available by writing Precision Meetings and Events at congress@iaascongress.org or 301 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 104, Alexandria, VA 22314.
March 20, 2003
Statement on MedPAC Proposed Cuts to Ways & Means Health Subcommittee
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January 15, 2003
MedPAC Takes Action to Stifle ASC Industry
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Article discussing MedPAC & OIG Reports (PDF)
Get more information and analysis
An interactive disk is available to allow ASCs to assess the effect MedPAC's and the OIG's recently proposed ASC payment reductions will have on their ASC.
