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ASCA is seeking candidates to serve on the ASCA Board of Directors (members also serve on the ASCA Foundation Board). If you know of an individual who has the skills, experience and a commitment to devote time and energy to surgery center advocacy, please see if they are interested, and, if so, nominate them. Self-nominations are also welcome. The deadline to submit nominations is next Monday, December 19. |
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Start the new year off right at the 2023 Winter Seminar, taking place in person January 12–14 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. This focused, ASC-specific event features two tracks: Coding & Reimbursement and Management Essentials for Administrators. Reserve your spot now! |
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ASCA’s newest podcast episode, “ ASCA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative,” features ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice and ASCA Board President Mandy Hawkins in a discussion about the work the association is doing to address DEI concerns in outpatient surgery. |
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With the Georgia Senate runoff coming to a close on December 6, the long drawn-out 2022 midterm cycle has finally ended, and it is time to take a look at ASCA’s legislative priorities going into 2023. Read this Digital Debut for more on how ASCA plans to push to bring back the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 2021. |
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On December 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidance that further delays enforcement of requirements for good faith estimates (GFE) stemming from the No Surprises Act (NSA). The enforcement was expected to begin on January 1, 2023, but the new CMS guidance extends the enforcement discretion indefinitely.
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Every industry feels the impact of a fragile supply chain, but in healthcare it presents a serious loss of productivity and revenue and a threat to high-quality care. With technology-based software solutions, ASCs can move towards a more resilient supply chain to ensure sustainability and growth. Join this webinar, ASC Supply Chain: Managing Rising Costs Amid Inventory Challenges, to learn how ASCs can combat rising supply chain costs by using technology to increase visibility, improve operational efficiency and optimize cost savings with data and analytics. |
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More than 150 organizations representing over 1 million physicians and other health care clinicians are strongly urging Congress to take action to prevent the entirety of the 4.5 percent cut in Medicare physician pay rates that is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2023. "This desperately needed relief will help provide crucial short-term financial stability for practices until permanent, bipartisan payment reforms are enacted," says a letter organized by the AMA, and signed by all 50 state medical associations, and sent to House leaders Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, and Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell. A separate letter, also organized by the AMA, was signed by more than 100 national specialty societies and others such as the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and The US Oncology Network. |
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American Medical Association (12/08/22) Kevin B. O'Reilly
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As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to increasing health data exchange and investing in interoperability, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule that would improve patient and provider access to health information and streamline processes related to prior authorization for medical items and services.
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CMS Press Release (12/06/22)
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Many women with two or three breast tumors can get by with lumpectomy surgery instead of having their whole breast removed, a new study suggests. In recent years, more patients with multiple tumors have been identified, a result of more sensitive imaging techniques that can reveal tiny, once-hidden cancers.
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Associated Press (12/09/22) Carla K. Johnson
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Early in his career, Dr. Keith Smith noted that hospitals were “constantly poor-mouthing, saying, 'We're going broke,'" yet those same hospitals constantly had cranes in front of them due to expansion. And self-contradiction was not the worst thing happening at those hospitals.
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Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (12/05/22) Ray Carter
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It is no secret that drug shortages have been prevalent in 2022. Several major drug products, such as amoxicillin and Adderall, have been in short supply for several months and have led to members of Congress applying pressure on the FDA and HHS to resolve the situation.
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Endpoints News (12/02/22) Tyler Patchen
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Covenant High Plains Surgery Center announced on Friday that it has earned the Aetna Institute of Quality designation for its bariatric (weight loss) surgery program. The Institute of Quality recognition is awarded by Aetna to bariatric surgery centers that have a proven track record of delivering excellent results, measuring many factors such as success rates, complications, readmissions, case volume, and cost-effective care. At this writing, only six freestanding surgery centers in the country hold this distinction.
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PRNewswire (12/09/22)
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About ASCAMission: 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. Contact Us: Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever or Alex Yewdell at 202.337.1897 or at advertising@ascassociation.org. Follow ASCA on
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