ASCA News Digest (October 6, 2020)

Data collection for the third quarter (Q3) of ASCA’s 2020 Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey is now open. Subscribers should make sure to submit their data by October 31 in order to get a complete picture of trends for the year.

Not yet subscribed to the 2020 survey? Purchase a subscription now.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released fourth quarter (Q4) updates to the ASC fee schedule in its October Payment Addenda. Specific updates can be found in the corresponding Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters release.

ASCA members can find resources, including the Medicare Rate Calculator, on the ASCA website.

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This is the last month you can access ASCA's first-ever virtual conference on demand! Through October 31, you can watch recordings of all the sessions and visit the virtual expo hall. Be sure to take advantage of this time. If you start now and watch just two sessions each week, you can earn 8+ CE credits!

Session highlights include Fair Market Value and ASC Transactions, in which participants will discuss the fundamentals of fair market value (FMV) and learn what FMV actually means, why it's required in an ASC transaction and what the compliance benefits of an FMV appraisal entail.

Sign up for ASCA 2020 today!

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During ASCA’s webinar, Optimizing Profitability Through Engagement and Team Alignment, scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, at 1:00 pm ET, participants will discuss strategies on how to bridge the gap between their clinical and materials management teams and the revenue cycle management team to help unite and lead their centers to better results. Register for this webinar today.

This program is also included in ASCA’s 2020 Webinar All-Access Pass, which provides access to all 20 webinars in this year's series for one low fee.

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Nader Samii, the chief executive officer of National Medical Billing Services in St. Louis, Missouri, has guided the company into its position as one of the largest and most reputable revenue cycle management companies in the ASC market. Read this ASC Focus article for a Q&A with Nader.

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As previously reported, the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11 is still on track, with the US Senate slated to pass the measure on September 30, sending it to the President to be signed into law. Among other things, the CR makes Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs repayment terms more accommodating to healthcare providers through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

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ASCs Add Substantial Value to Outpatient Surgery

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are not new to the healthcare industry, but recent technological advances and the potential for COVID-19 infection in the hospital setting are driving many third-party administrators to take a deeper look. Joint procedures, spine procedures, critical diagnostic procedures, and many other surgeries are being performed with great success in ASCs, both in terms of outcomes and cost.

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New Guidelines Reduce Number of Opioid Pills Prescribed to Patients After Surgery

To address the opioid epidemic, surgeons have embraced guidelines to reduce the number of opioid pills they prescribe to patients after surgery, and the efforts have helped to significantly reduce the number of opioids in circulation. But new research presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020 reports that these guidelines may be missing a small group of patients that need a greater level of pain control.

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National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety

The Joint Commission, along with 26 influential federal agencies, safety organizations and experts, and patient and family advocates, worked diligently over the past few years to develop "Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety."

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AMSURG Reports Nearly 200,000 Patients Have Missed Colonoscopies Since Start of Pandemic

AMSURG, a division of Envision Healthcare and a national leader in providing outpatient endoscopic procedures, released new data today on the impact COVID-19 has had on colonoscopies, a vital medical screening test used to detect, prevent and treat colon cancer. According to AMSURG’s internal data, more than 195,000 patients have missed colonoscopies since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Survey Finds Healthcare Providers Have Lost Income and Are Less Likely to Make a Career Change

Over half (59 percent) of healthcare providers have experienced a decrease in income due to COVID-19, according to a recent survey. Physicians and advanced practice clinicians reported an average of 22 percent decrease in income compared to 2019.

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Coastal Virginia Surgery Center Completes First Surgical Case

Coastal Virginia Surgery Center (CVSC) completed its first surgical case Thursday. The surgery, arthroscopy of the right shoulder, was performed by CVSC President and orthopaedic surgeon, Boyd W. Haynes, III, M.D.

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News summaries © copyright 2020 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.

Contact Us: Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever or Alex Yewdell at 202.337.1897 or at advertising@ascassociation.org.

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