Welcome to the ASC Advocacy Center
Make your voice heard today!
The ASC Association, the national ASC organization, is the premier advocate for access to ambulatory surgical services. Nothing is more important to our efforts than your voice. This site is designed to empower the ASC community to take action on important issues affecting our industry.
Things You Can Do To Make Your Voice Heard
Policy makers need to understand just how important ASCs are in meeting America's health care needs. These advocacy activities are quick, easy and fun and you will be making a difference.
Ask Congress to Support ASCs and the ASC Access ACT of 2009 
Write Congress and let them know that ASCs are critical for the future of health care. After you write, encourage others at your facility — doctors, nurses, staff as well as patients and vendors — to write as well.
Join Your State ASC Association State ASC Associations are critical for the future of ASCs. The ASC Association encourages you to get involved with your state ASC association and in strengthening the ASC industry at the state and local level.
Participate in Advocacy Activities All Year Long Make 2009 the year of the ASC by doing one thing a month to make the future of ASCs brighter. It is easy, fun and you will be making a difference.
Host an ASC Open House Hosting an open house gives ASCs an opportunity to open their doors to the local community and public policy officials. It is a great way to highlight the ways that you give back to your community and to raise awareness of the benefits of ASCs.
Advocacy Tools from the ASC Association
The following are some of the resources available from the ASC Association to support your advocacy efforts. If you need of additional reports, research, or fact sheets, contact the ASC Association at ASC@ascassociation.org or 703.836.8808.
ASC Access ACT of 2009: Summary of the Legislation The ASC Access Act of 2009 (H.R. 2049), introduced by Kendrick Meek (D-FL) and Wally Herger (R-CA), would resolve the increasing discrepancy between ASC and hospital outpatient department (HOPD) payments, require comparable quality reporting standards for ASCs and HOPDs and assure patient access to same-day services at an ASC by allowing ASCs the opportunity to give patients notifications, required by Medicare, on the day of the procedure if it is not feasible to provide the notifications further in advance.
ASC Access ACT of 2009: Talking Points These talking points give concise and effective arguments in support of the ASC Access Act of 2009.
ASC Access ACT of 2009: Cosponsors See the members of Congress who have cosponsored the ASC Access Act of 2009.
An Analysis of Recent Growth of Ambulatory Surgical Centers This study provides evidence that ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) play a pivotal role in moving services out of hospitals and into less expensive yet clinically appropriate settings. The study findings highlight the role ASCs have played in meeting the growing population needs for essential surgical and cancer screening services. More »
Meeting America's Surgical Needs: Comprehensive Brochure This comprehensive brochure provides an overview of ASCs and the role surgery centers play in meeting America's surgical needs. It includes information on the number of ASCs by state, specialties served in ASCs and the regulatory oversight and quality standards ASCs must meet.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Positive Trend in Health Care This ASC Trends report illustrates research supporting the growth and expansion of ASCs.
Physician-Led Ambulatory Surgical Centers: Vital to Meeting the Surgical Needs of Tomorrow — Order Today! Citizens in every state have access to more than 5,300 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the nation largely due to physician ownership. This report describes why physician ownership of ASCs is a win-win situation and the benefits of their contributions to ASCs.
Selective Contracting by Managed Care Organizations: Risky Business for Patients, Physicians and ASCs — Order Today! This report explains the practice of selective contracting, why it is problematic and provides possible remedies.
US House Sign-on letter to CMS Regarding a Change to ASC Payment Updates 32 US House members formed a bipartisan group signing this letter and sent it to CMS asking for ASC inflation updates to be calculated using Hospital Market Basket rather than the current CPI-U.
ASC industry submits comments to CMS on value based purchasing
Action Needed Today!
Send Your Letters to Congress
Asking for Support of the ASC Access Act of 2009
ASCPAC 
The ASCPAC is the ASC Association's nonpartisan political action committee. The ASCPAC is dedicated to electing and supporting strong ASC advocates in congress so that the ASC community can continue to grow with full government support.
