Information from ASCA
Published: April 19, 2021
ASCA joined other healthcare associations in a letter of support for H.R. 2079, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act. This legislation is sponsored by Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Neil Dunn (R-FL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and, if enacted, would ensure that all healthcare providers will not be subject to taxes on aid they received through the Provider Relief Fund.
Published: March 16, 2021
ASCA joined other healthcare associations in asking Congress to take action to suspend Medicare sequestration throughout the duration of the public health emergency and prevent an additional four percent cut that could be enforced next year. Currently, sequestration is suspended through March 31, 2021.
Published: February 3, 2021
ASCA joined other healthcare associations in asking Congress to include a provision in the next coronavirus relief package that would extend the suspension of Medicare sequestration throughout the duration of the public health emergency. Currently, sequestration is suspended through March 31, 2021.
Published: December 28, 2020
On December 27, President Trump signed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. This legislation provides additional pandemic relief, funds the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and other agencies, and makes other programmatic changes.
Published: December 1, 2020
ASCA and 25 other groups are urging Congress to include the NOPAIN Act in end-of-year legislation it adopts. The legislation would remove current reimbursement barriers to the use of non-opioid pain management and increase access to and use of a wide array of medically appropriate, safe and effective opioid alternatives.
Published: November 23, 2020
In conversation with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma and other senior officials, ASCA Board members suggested ways the agency can allow ASCs to take on cases being postponed in hospitals due to COVID-19 surges.
Published: November 12, 2020
ASCA and 26 other healthcare organizations requested that Congress extend the moratorium on Medicare reimbursement cuts for as long as the COVID-19 public health emergency continues.
Published: November 12, 2020
ASCA, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) are urging Congress to eliminate the copay penalty that Medicare beneficiaries face when they receive certain high-cost procedures in ASCs instead of hospital outpatient departments.
Published: October 5, 2020
Stuart Simon, MD, medical director of United Surgical Partners International (USPI), discusses the findings of a survey of more than 700 ambulatory surgery centers conducted this past spring that found essential surgical procedures conducted during the pandemic were performed safely, with virtually no heightened risk of patients contracting the virus either during or following their outpatient surgery.
Published: August 25, 2020
ASCA and other healthcare organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders supporting the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act (H.R. 7819 and S. 4525). If enacted, this legislation would ensure that Provider Relief Fund distributions provided in response to COVID-19 are not taxable.
Read the complete letter supporting H.R. 7819/S. 4525 and see the other organizations requesting this action.
Published: July 15, 2020
Tom Deas, MD, a leading gastroenterologist who is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology, discusses some of the risks associated with delaying even common outpatient surgery procedures such as colonoscopies.
Available to ASCA members only Published: June 18, 2020
Bill Prentice, ASCA chief executive officer, and Michael Patterson, president and chief executive officer of Mississippi Valley Health in Davenport, Iowa, provide an update on the resumption of elective surgeries in ASCs, as well as the continuing challenges occurring in outpatient surgery.
Published: June 11, 2020
ASCA has signed on to guidance developed to help healthcare providers adopt policies that will allow medical device representatives to re-enter their facilities safely.
Available to ASCA members only Published: June 3, 2020
In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA CEO Bill Prentice and Healthcare Bluebook Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Bill Kampine discuss the outlook for resuming elective surgeries and what to expect immediately and in the future regarding case volumes, pricing and commercial insurance coverage.