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January 9, 2018
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Headlines
ASCA Highlights
Industry News
ASCA Highlights
Join ASCA this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, for three days of top-quality ASC education. Register on site at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for one of these three seminars, which begin Thursday:
All three seminars run concurrently, so you can register for one and attend sessions from the others for free.
Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a correction notice that impacted the 2018 ASC final payment rates, which were effective as of January 1. ASCA has updated its 2018 Final Rate Calculator (available to ASCA members only) to reflect these changes.
The data collection period for the fourth quarter (Q4) of ASCA’s 2017 Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey is now open and will close on Wednesday, January 31. Subscribers should make sure to submit their data before the deadline in order to get a complete picture of trends for the year.
Not yet subscribed to the 2018 Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey? Sign up today to keep your ASC on track for success in 2018 and beyond.
Registration is open for ASCA 2018, April 11–14, in Boston, Massachusetts. ASCA’s annual meeting offers invaluable networking opportunities that will connect you with more than a thousand of your peers from throughout the country. ASCA 2018 also features more than 60 educational sessions, expert speakers, ample continuing education opportunities and more. Learn more and register.
Purchase ASCA’s 2018 Webinar All-Access Pass to enjoy big savings on a full year of quality ASC education. This popular pass provides access to both the live events and recordings of all 17 webinars scheduled for this year. The 2018 All-Access Pass is $395 for ASCA members and $595 for nonmembers—savings of more than $1,000. Purchase now.
The Nevada Surgery Center Association (NASCA) will host a membership meeting this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with ASCA’s 2018 Winter Seminars. Members of ASCA’s staff will be on site for the meeting, which will take place Thursday, January 11, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The meeting is free to centers in Nevada and lunch will be provided. Attendees also receive a discount code for $100 off the seminars, which begin later that day. Register.
Interest in performing cardiac procedures in the outpatient setting is growing. During her presentation at ASCA 2018—April 11–14, in Boston, Massachusetts—Sheree Leppinen, director of nursing and administrator at Heart & Rhythm Institute of Trinity/Cardiovascular Institute of Trinity in Trinity, Florida, will explain how to run a successful heart-centered surgery center.
Industry News
Statement by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Update on Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico
FDA News Release (01/04/18)
As we enter the new year and pass the 100-day mark from when Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, we want to provide an update on the current recovery efforts, the state of existing drug shortages that resulted from the impact of the storm and our continued commitment to help the island fully recover. A key area of focus for the FDA remains addressing the IV saline shortage, which has impacted patients, health care providers and hospitals.
Healthcare Bluebook Helps Consumers Save Money on Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses
Reward Expert (12/21/17) Rose, Angela
Healthcare in the U.S. is becoming increasingly expensive. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, healthcare spending grew nearly 6 percent in 2015, reaching $3.2 trillion or $9,990 per person.
ADOPT Guidance Project Releases New Ambulatory Care Setting Guides in 2018
Joint Commission Ambulatory Buzz blog (12/27/17) Tschurtz, Brette
As we've reported previously in AmBuzz, The Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have been collaborating since late 2015 on a three-year project, Adaptation & Dissemination of Outpatient Infection Prevention (ADOPT). As the name implies, the goal of this project is to adapt, enhance, and disseminate current CDC guidance related to infection prevention and control in ambulatory care settings.
Texting of Patient Information Among Healthcare Providers
CMS.gov (12/28/2017)
In an effort to clarify the position of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as it relates to texting, CMS does not permit the texting of orders by physicians or other health care providers. The practice of texting orders from a provider to a member of the care team is not in compliance with the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) or Conditions for Coverage (CfCs).
Transparency Eyed to Hold Down Health Costs
News4Jax.com (01/03/18) Sexton, Christine
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has often criticized efforts to overhaul health care at the federal level, has contended for years that more needs to be done to lower the cost of what patients -- and the government -- pay for care. But there are questions about whether Scott's own effort to help drive down costs will be a success before he leaves office in early 2019.
As Health Care Costs Rise, Charlottesville-Area Practitioners Test New Options
Charlottesville Daily Progress (VA) (12/29/17) Serven, Ruth
Dr. Maura McLaughlin tells of a friend who went to the doctor with strep throat. Ten minutes and one lab test later, she was sent home with a bill for $600, which she'd have to pay out-of-pocket.
Despite APM Participation, Fee for Service Still Dominates
AMA Wire (12/21/2017) Henry, Tanya Albert
Though reports indicate physicians are becoming more involved in alternative payment models (APMs), fee for service continues to be the dominant way physician practices receive revenue, according to new research published today. Nearly 60 percent of physicians reported that their practices received some revenue from at least one alternative payment model (APM) in 2016, with pay-for-performance and bundled payment arrangements having the highest participation rates around 35 percent.
From Stewardship to Scopes: Infection Prevention Imperatives for 2018
Infection Control Today (01/05/18) Pyrek, Kelly M.
Stewardship and scopes are just two issues that are top of mind for stakeholders in infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology for the new year. Let's explore the imperatives, as suggested by leaders in the infection prevention and control community.
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