ASC Medicare Regulations
Medicare establishes requirements, called conditions for coverage, that ASCs must meet in order to be Medicare certified. Medicare ASC Conditions for Coverage
Medicare also issues guidelines for state surveyors to use in determining whether ASCs comply with these regulations. These interpretive guidelines can be helpful in determining what the regulations mean. Interpretive Guidelines for Medicare Regulations on Survey Visits.
ASC Association members who have questions about these regulations, can call the ASC Association Membership Services Team 703.836.8808.
Changes Proposed to Medicare ASC Regulations
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services issued a proposed rule to modify existing ASC Conditions for Coverage. The public comment period for this proposed rule ended on October 30, 2007. CMS is evaluating these comments and preparing a final rule. No date for the issuance of the final rule is available. A variety of materials on these proposed changes and the ASC Association response are available below.
Slides about Proposed Changes to Medicare ASC Regulations
Existing Regulations with the Proposed Changes Highlighted
CMS Notice of Proposed Changes CMS's actual proposed changes with CMS commentary on why it is proposing changes and what the changes mean.
Representative Lamborn's Letter to CMS Representative Lamborn's letter to CMS opposing CMS's proposal to override state laws on overnight care.
FASA Comments on Proposed Changes to Medicare ASC Regulations
AAASC Comments on Proposed Changes to Medicare ASC Regulations
ASC State Associations Submit Comments to Medicare on Proposed Change in ASC Definition
Revisit Fees for ASCs
On September 19, 2007, Medicare finalized a rule establishing survey fees for revisits to ASCs and other health care facilities that have been cited for deficiencies during initial certification, recertification or substantiated complaint surveys. The "Revisit Fees" will affect providers for which a revisit is required to confirm that the previously-identified failures have been corrected. Reconsideration requests of the fee assessment must be submitted to CMS within 14 calendar days from the date identified on the fee assessment notice. If payment of the revisit fee is not received in 30 days, CMS can terminate the provider's Medicare enrollment. Click here for a copy of the final rule.
Medicare Clarifies Backup Power Requirements for ASCs
CMS has issued a memorandum stating that ASCs under certain circumstances are allowed to use batteries for backup power. The ASC Association has long argued that backup battery systems are an appropriate source of backup power.
Life Safety Code for ASCs (final in 2003)
Requires ASCs to comply with the 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC), updated and published by the National Fire Protection Association. Click here for final rule.
