ASCA News Digest (September 7, 2022)

If you weren’t able to attend the 2022 Infection Prevention for ASCs virtual course live, don’t worry—the entire course is now available on demand through the ASCA Learning Hub.

This program covers a wide variety of topics and provides participants with the resources they need to develop and maintain an infection prevention program. It will also help participants prepare for the Certified Ambulatory Infection Preventionist (CAIP)^® exam.

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You can now renew your ASCA membership online via ASCA’s website. With your membership comes a variety of benefits that help you run your ASC more efficiently, provide quality patient care and stay up to date on industry trends and regulations. See all the ways you can put your ASCA benefits to good use.

Not yet a member? Join ASCA today.

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This week, two ASCA staff members will present at state ASC association meetings across the country.

ASCA CEO Bill Prentice will present the “Legislative Update” on Thursday, September 8, at 8:30 am PT at the 2022 California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA) Annual Conference & Exhibits in Indian Wells, CA, September 7–9.

ASCA Director of Government Affairs & Regulatory Counsel Kara Newbury will provide the “ASCA Update” on Thursday, September 8, at 7:30 pm CT at the Association of Wisconsin Surgery Centers (WISCA) 2022 Leadership Summit in Stevens Point, WI, September 8–9.

View these events and more on the ASCA Connect calendar.

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ASCA members are invited to apply for a Medical Mission Scholarship provided through the ASCA Foundation’s partnership with One World Surgery. Opportunities are available for CRNAs, sterile processors, nurses, surgical techs and scrub techs working at ASCA member facilities. Learn more and apply.

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The deadline to submit comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2023 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) is next Tuesday, September 13. ASCA will once again submit comments raising industry-wide concerns, but it is important that CMS hears from individual centers as well. Read this Digital Debut for more information about the rule and sample comment letters.

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On August 20, the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Health Services Financing finalized changes to the state’s transfer agreement and patient transfer requirements for ASCs at LAC 48:I.4541.

Originally, the proposed rule would have allowed optometrists to perform surgeries such as YAG laser capsulotomies in ASCs while exempting them from the requirement that each member of the ASC medical staff be a member in good standing on the medical staff of at least one hospital in the community. After pushback from stakeholders over this exception granted to optometrists, the language regarding optometrists practicing in ASCs was removed.

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Optum Acquires Houston-Based Physician Group for $2 Billion

UnitedHealth Group's healthcare services division, Optum, will reportedly acquire Kelsey-Seybold for approximately $2 billion, according to the Star Tribune. The acquisition of Kelsey-Seybold, a physician group based in Houston that includes cancer and women's health centers, two ambulatory surgery centers, and a sleep center, was first announced in April, but few details have emerged since, the Star Tribune reported.

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Will Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Changes Drive Value-Based Care?

The proposed changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2023 may offer incentives for provider groups to consider alternative payment models. Still, the policies will likely require more apparent benefits to significantly impact the shift to value-based care.

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These 3 Healthcare Threats Will Do More Damage Than COVID-19

For two years, the COVID-19 pandemic rattled financial markets, dominated news coverage and disrupted daily life in ways most Americans would never have predicted. But now, in year three, the coronavirus has been downgraded to a persistent yet manageable threat—on par with the flu.

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Is That Instrument Safe to Use on a Patient?

Cleaning instruments for ambulatory surgery centers is a daily, routine procedure for staff. Sterile processing and perioperative staff work together to ensure instruments used during surgical procedures are clean, sterile and safe for use.

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Effects of COVID-19 on Residents and Early Career Surgeons

In December 2019, COVID-19 was first documented in Wuhan, China. By January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, followed by an unprecedented spread of this virus akin to the 1918 flu pandemic. As of May 2022, more than 517 million people had been infected and more than 6.2 million people worldwide had died from the virus—nearly 1 million in the US alone.

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News summaries © copyright 2022 Smithbucklin

About ASCA

Mission: The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is the national membership association that represents ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and provides advocacy and resources to assist ASCs in delivering high-quality, cost-effective ambulatory surgery to all the patients they serve.

About Us: At ASCA, we are eager to help you become better acquainted with our nation's ASCs and the people who own and operate them. We are also eager to help you develop policies on ASC-related issues. If you have questions, please contact us. We'll put you in touch with the experts and, if you like, arrange for you to visit an ASC in your area.

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