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October 25, 2016
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Headlines
ASCA Highlights
Industry News
ASCA Highlights
ASCA 2017 to Feature National Advocacy Day
ASCA will provide ASCA 2017 attendees an opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and speak face-to-face with their representatives in Congress on May 3 or May 4. This is your chance to have a real, tangible impact on ASCA’s legislative and regulatory agenda. As a constituent, you are the most effective communicator when it comes to educating policymakers on how their decisions affect you and your facility.
Registration for National Advocacy Day will be included as part of registration for ASCA 2017 when it opens next month.
The data collection period for the third quarter (Q3) of the 2016 Benchmarking survey ends on Monday, October 31.
Benchmarking subscribers who have not submitted their data should start today. If you haven't subscribed yet, sign up online now and submit your data before the second quarter ends.
Join ASCA in San Antonio, Texas, January 12–14, 2017, to learn how to navigate the complex legal and regulatory hurdles that your ASC will face in the coming year so that you can focus on delivering the best patient care.
Learn more and register at the Minimizing Your Regulatory and Legal Risk Seminar web site. ASCA members can save $200 by registering before December 13.
Developed by leading subject matter experts, ASCA’s Regulatory Training Series is a collection of clinical and non-clinical courses designed to help ASCs improve competency, reduce risk and maintain compliance. Recommended for all ASC employees, the courses offer an opportunity to earn continuing education (CE) credits for less than $3 each.
Learn more about ASCA’s Regulatory Training Series on the ASC Focus web site.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its final rule establishing the new Medicare payment methodology for physician services furnished under Medicare Part B, known as the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP has two participation options for physicians: The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). While this new methodology applies to payments beginning in CY 2019, reporting for the first year of the QPP begins in 2017.
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Surveys Happen
Before your next survey, make sure that your team is using the most up-to-date and compliant policies and procedures. PolicyStat makes it easy for everyone on your team to quickly find the policies they need. Stop worrying and gain confidence with better policy and procedure management.
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Industry News
Physician Frustrations Grow in Changing Health Care Environment
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (10/17/16) Twedt, Steve
After a patient's pelvic exam Pap test results came back abnormal last January, the next step medically called for a procedure to determine whether the abnormal cells indicated a treatable infection--the most likely possibility--or something more serious, including a developing cervical cancer. Ten months later, gynecologist David Deitrick said his patient is still deciding what to do.
MACRA Final Rule Brings Optimism, Lingering Concern
Diagnostic Imaging (10/18/16) Perna, Gabriel
The early returns on CMS' 2,000+-page final rule for implementation of the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) are in. Experts like many of the changes they saw from the proposed rule, but still seek more changes to ensure small practices don't get left behind.
Branstad visits Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center
Iowa City Press-Citizen (10/20/16) Davis, Andy
Before taking a tour Thursday of the Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center, Gov. Terry Branstad, joined by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, praised work being done at the center and at more than 20 others like it around the state. Branstad spoke highly of the lower costs for outpatient surgical procedures offered at the center, which, on its website, lists more than 60 physicians of varying specialties who also operate at the Mercy Iowa City hospital.
Ambulatory Surgical Center Marks 10 Years
Stevens Point Journal (WI) (10/21/16) Vine, Nathan
The Ambulatory Surgical Center of Stevens Point, located in the Klasinski Medical Complex at 500 Vincent St., recently marked its 10th anniversary. The independent multi-specialty surgical center, which opened in August of 2006, is owned and operated by local health care providers.
Patient Experience Is Key Focus at Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center
Danbury HamletHub (10/18/16) Fitzpatrick, Kate
For decades, word of mouth advice has been important in the health care field, where people advise family and friends on their person experiences, both good and bad, about practitioners, procedures, and results. That communication has been a key influence for many years on how people choose their care.
Surgery Center Donates Equipment to UTPB Nursing
Odessa American (TX) (10/13/16) Campbell, Ruth
The East Loop Surgery Center donated more than $18,000 in equipment to the Nursing Simulation Center at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Wednesday. Bill Ritter, the general partner in East Loop Surgery, said the equipment, which will be used to give nursing students hands-on experience, includes items that can be used for most types of outpatient surgery.
Healthcare Data Breaches Increase, But Fewer Records Compromised
SC Magazine (10/20/16) Olenick, Doug
The healthcare industry saw 37 data breaches take place in September with about 250,000 patient records being compromised, but this was a major decrease from the 8.8 million records breached in August. September's 37 incidents was down slightly from the 42 posted in August, but the September figure is part of a trend that has the number of data breaches per month increasing as the year moves along, the Protenus September Breach Barometer stated.
Mobile Health Technology Is Changing Doctor Care, Says 81 Percent of Physicians
Mobile Commerce Press (10/19/16)
A new survey by Merck Manuals showed that mobile health technology is changing the game. These mobile digital resources are helping doctors and patients in the way that care is provided.
Lessons From India: Delivering High-Quality, Efficient Cataract Surgery
University of Michigan Health System (10/19/16)
University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center (link is external) researchers have published an inside look of Aravind Eye Care System's high-efficiency effort to eliminate blindness. In India, cataracts--which can be successfully treated with surgery--are a leading cause of reversible blindness.
Implementing a Comprehensive Endoscope Reprocessing Program
Infection Control Today (10/18/16) England, Dawn
More than 10 million endoscope procedures are performed in the United States each year. There is no doubt that these medical devices have been a major advancement in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head Sale Arranged by Marcus and Millichap
Palmetto Business Daily (10/23/16)
The sale of Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head, a 19,729-square-foot property, was arranged by Marcus and Millichap on Oct.12. Marcus and Millichap is a leading commercial real estate investment services firm throughout the U.S. and Canada.
National Infection Control Week: Invigorating Our Hand Hygiene Practices
McKnight's Long Term Care News (10/19/16) Bergin, Tom
As hospitals and health care facilities across North America observe National Infection Control Week, it's an opportune time to identify and explore modern means to improve facility-wide hygiene. In fact, the need to raise the bar for patient safety has been reinforced by the Centers of Medicate & Medicaid Services' recent ruling of modern policies designed to enhance the safety of residents and facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
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