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Eligible physicians taking part in Medicare alternative payment models (APMs) will, once again, be able to receive a 3.1% bonus thanks to a provision in H.R. 7148—the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026—the recently passed bipartisan legislation that funds the federal government for the remainder of this fiscal year. While the bonus expired in 2024, this new health care package that was attached to H.R. 7148 restores the incentive payments for 12 months as part of the 2026 performance year.
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American Medical Association (02/25/26) Tanya Albert Henry
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Register today for the ASCA + SAMBA Conference & Expo, taking place May 13–16 in Washington, DC. This year’s conference will feature the same great offerings as ASCA’s previous conferences, plus all the benefits of a partnership with SAMBA (Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia). Attendees can also expect to have a lot of fun—highlights include the keynote session featuring superyacht captain and Bravo TV star Sandy Yawn and a ’90s sitcom-themed party on Friday night. Check out the schedule and register today! |
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ASCA Content (03/03/26)
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Drive smarter outpatient expansion with a free, tailored market overview from Siemens Healthineers. Explore local demand trends, patient demographics, care volumes, payor mix, and more to shape where and how you grow. Whether planning a new ASC, imaging center, or service line expansion, these data-driven insights help you make confident decisions. Request your customized report today!
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer-related death in the United States and ranks first in adults younger than 50 years. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society reports on CRC occurrence based on incidence from population-based cancer registries and mortality from the National Center for Health Statistics.
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CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (03/02/26) Vol. 76, No. 2 Rebecca L. Siegel; Nikita Sandeep Wagle; Jessica Star; et al.
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ASC Insights: Real Stories, Real Results, Real Impact.Through in-depth conversations with ASC medical directors, administrators, and clinical leaders, we're documenting real-world experiences with technology implementation, operational innovation, and strategic decision-making. These aren't marketing stories—they're peer-to-peer insights from leaders who've faced the same challenges you're navigating today.Listen now.
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During the final half of 2025, healthcare organizations across the country posted 268 breaches of protected health information (PHI) affecting 500 or more individuals. This is the lowest number of breaches reported in a six-month span since the last half of 2020, and is a 19 percent decrease since the previous update. Read this Digital Debut to learn more. |
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ASCA Content (03/03/26)
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Last month, Justin and Amy Miller packed their vehicles with three kids, two dogs, a pet bearded dragon, and whatever belongings they could fit, then drove 2,000 miles from Wisconsin to British Columbia to leave President Trump's America. The Millers resettled on Vancouver Island, their scenic refuge accessible only by ferry or plane. Justin went to work in the emergency room at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where he became one of at least 20 U.S.-trained nurses hired since April.
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NPR (02/25/26) Brett Kelman
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We analyzed millions of cases across 12 ASC specialties to bring you 10 key benchmarking metrics, including: OR utilization, pre-authorization rates, insurance verification rate, case cancellation rate & reasons, collections, days to bill, denial rate, net revenue per case, & case volume. Stop guessing, get the data you need to benchmark your ASC. Read the full report here for free
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Share your ASC experience with others by leading a presentation at the ASCA 2027 Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL, March 31–April 3. ASCA is interested in proposals from individuals with hands-on experience in the ASC community on topics involving human resources, clinical care, quality, finance, legal issues, information technology, anesthesia and more. The submission deadline is April 30. Submit your proposal today. |
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ASCA Content (03/03/26)
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Procision's AI Powered Patient CommunicationsTraditional patient communication is broken—calls go unanswered, messages get missed, and staff are stretched thin. Discover how AI is closing the gap with smarter, more personal outreach that patients actually respond to.Click here for the full article and more details.
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Cataract surgery has been scrutinized for its potential role in the progression of nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to neovascular AMD (nAMD). However, conflicting reports challenge this association. This study aimed to assess the risk of nAMD following cataract surgery.
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JAMA Ophthalmology (02/05/26) Victor Bellanda; Matthew J. Schulgit; Gabriel Castilho S. Barbosa; et al.
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Learn how one ASC reduced aged AR by 33% and boosted cash per case by 6% in six months through focused revenue integrity, analytics, and hands-on collaboration. The results highlight what’s possible when strategy and execution align.Read more.
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Candidates who plan to take the May Certified Administrator Surgery Center® (CASC) exam must submit their application by Tuesday, March 31. The CASC credential is a distinction earned by members of the ASC community who demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills required of an ASC administrator. Learn more today. |
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ASCA Content (03/03/26)
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Maryland Senate Bill 494 and House Bill 944, proposed companion bills introduced in February 2026, would establish a new public interest review framework for health care transactions and implement changes to Maryland's certificate of need law. If enacted, the bills would require health care entities to provide 90-day advance notice to the Maryland Health Care Commission before completing mergers, acquisitions, and other material transactions.
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Baker Donelson (02/23/26) Howard L. Sollins; K. Scott Newman; Alex S. Lewis; et al.
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Join “ How to Negotiate Lower Orthopedic Implant Prices,” delivered by Advantien, for a tactical training program designed to equip ASC leaders with the expertise to execute a successful Request for Proposal (RFP) process for orthopedic implants. The presentation emphasizes a data-driven, multistage approach to reduce implant costs by an estimated 15–20 percent while maintaining surgeon support and quality. This affiliate-led webinar is now available on demand. It is included in 2026 ASCA membership and is also available for purchase by nonmembers. Continuing education credits will not be provided. |
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ASCA Content (03/03/26)
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The U.S. physician market is consolidating at a rapid pace. As recently as 2012, fewer than one in three physicians were affiliated with hospital systems.
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PRI Center for Medical Economics and Innovation (02/01/26) Wayne Winegarden
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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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