Departments - ASC Focus Magazine

Departments

Message from the President

Top Reasons Surgery Centers Fail and How to Avoid Them

BY MARK WAINNER | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025

Operational, financial and regulatory challenges can lead surgery centers to underperform or even close. Understanding the most common reasons for failure is essential for steering a surgery center toward long-term success.

Message from the CEO

New Year Brings New Prospects, Uncertainties

BY BILL PRENTICE | JANUARY 2026

Happy new year to the ASC community.

Surgery centers and the healthcare industry at large experienced multiple changes last year, including the addition of 573 codes to the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL) for 2026.

ASCA + SAMBA 2026

Use OAS CAHPS Survey Data to Improve Your ASC

Attend ASCA + SAMBA 2026 to learn more

BY JESSICA BENNETT | JANUARY 2026

The Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey became a mandatory component of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ASC Quality Reporting Program on January 1, 2025.

As I See It

Addressing the Anesthesia Provider Shortage

Strategies to consider

BY KATHERINE GRICHNIK, MD, AND LINDSAY LOWDER | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024

We live in a time of surging demand in the ASC environment. Improved technology making surgery safer, patients catching up on elective surgeries postponed in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and improved surgical and anesthetic capabilities expanding the list of ASC-eligible procedures are all driving more cases into the ASC setting.

Doing Business

Compliance as a Culture

Staying audit-ready every day

BY REBECCA BERNSTEIN | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025

In the dynamic and highly regulated world of ASCs, a mindset of continuous compliance is not just prudent, it is essential. Regulators from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or state agencies can arrive unannounced at any time to verify adherence to Conditions for Coverage (CfCs), safety practices, infection control measures and record-keeping protocols.

Emergency Preparedness

Shootings in Healthcare Facilities Rise

Steps to take to keep your surgery center safe

BY BRIANNA THOMAS | OCTOBER 2023

The topic of emergency preparedness comes up regularly in workplaces, but recently, this preparation has had to be enhanced. Specifically, healthcare facilities now have to think about what to do in the case of an active shooter.

Advocacy

ASCA Members Celebrate National ASC Month

Surgery centers host facility tours for congressional staff, advocate for their cause

INTERVIEWED BY MAIA KUNKEL | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

In August, ASCs across the country celebrate National ASC Month to highlight the high-quality, cost-effective surgical care that surgery centers provide to their patients and communities. 90210 Surgery Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California, and South Kansas City Surgicenter in Overland Park, Kansas, hosted their members of Congress to educate them about ASCs and the work they do for their community.

Trends

Sg2 Forecasts Significant Growth in ASC Volume

Gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and spine procedures will see the highest increases

BY SAHELY MUKERJI | SEPTEMBER 2025

Sg2’s 2025 Impact of Change Forecast projects total adult ASC volume to grow 21 percent over the course of the decade. “Surgical utilization in the ASC is expected to grow 23 percent and accounts for more than 75 percent of billable activity occurring at this care site,” says Tony Guth, senior director of Sg2 Intelligence.

Education

Master Life Safety Code Compliance

Sign up for ASCA’s virtual course this October to learn how

BY SAHELY MUKERJI | SEPTEMBER 2023

ASCA’s third virtual course this year, Life Safety Code for ASCs, will be broadcast live over two half days, October 23 and 24. Recordings of the sessions will be available on demand later.

Awards

Wilson Receives Nap Gary Award for Lifetime Achievement

Her career in the ASC community spans more than 30 years

BY SAHELY MUKERJI | JUNE-JULY 2025

ASCA awarded its 2025 Nap Gary Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in the ASC Community to Kathy Wilson, RN, former executive director of the ASC Quality Collaboration.

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Q&A

Charting the Course

ASCA’s 2026 strategic plan supports members where it matters the most

INTERVIEWED BY SAHELY MUKERJI | JANUARY 2026

ASCA’s chief financial officer discusses the association’s 2026 strategic plan.

Coding

Outsourcing Coding

How to work effectively with your revenue cycle partner

BY CRISTINA BENTIN | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024

It is increasingly difficult to find qualified credentialed employees with a desire to work within our brick-and-mortar ASC facilities. Business office positions, specifically the coding and billing functions, are more frequently being outsourced.

Compliance

Conforming with Patient Privacy Rules

Protect PHI and ensure comprehensive healthcare compliance

BY MICHELLE DEL GUERCIO | AUGUST 2024

In today’s digital age, protecting patient privacy and adhering to regulatory requirements is paramount for healthcare organizations. The stakes are high, with protected health information becoming more accessible than ever before.

Regulations

HIPAA Biannual Update

January to June 2025

BY MAIA KUNKEL | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025

During the first half of 2025, healthcare organizations across the country posted 330 breaches of protected health information (PHI) affecting 500 or more individuals. Consistent with previous updates, rises in unauthorized access or hacking comprised almost all—98 percent—of the breaches.

Legal Matters

Informed Consent Process in Ambulatory Surgery

Review state laws and AHRQ materials before creating your policy

BY NESKO RADOVIC AND SANDRA JONES, CASC | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019

In rare situations, the duration of the informed consent could present an issue. Some state laws presume that a written authorization signed by the patient is valid. Some states might specify the time frame in which consent remains valid; others require that consent be obtained no more than 30 days from the procedure. Therefore, checking state regulations is essential.

Marketing

Build a Data-Driven Marketing Program

Foster relationships by eliminating the guesswork

BY ROBIN NTOH | OCTOBER 2019

Relying on word-of-mouth to cultivate awareness is not enough to establish and build reputation among potential patients in today’s competitive healthcare marketplace. Patients are using various means to shop for and select their care providers, and it is helpful to have a marketing program that connects with people as they consider options.

Insurance

Trends in Medical Risk Transfer

Risks that are uninsurable or prohibitively expensive to insure might call for alternative risk transfer

BY BENJAMIN S. TERNER | SEPTEMBER 2016

In an ever-changing world, it is no secret that risks associated with ASCs also are evolving. Trends in medical risk transfer, however, are generally not related to ordinary risks but rather nontraditional—low frequency/high severity—risks. If these risks occur, they have the ability to bring a practice to a screeching halt. Examples of such risks include: loss or suspension of professional license, legislative and regulatory changes, cyber risk (breach of customer data and detrimental code) and related Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) violations.

Legislature

Reintroducing the ASC Act in Congress

If passed, the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act will better align Medicare’s ASC and HOPD payment systems

MARCH 2023

As this issue of ASC Focus goes to press, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) and Congressman Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R-OH), are planning to introduce the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 2023 in the House side of the 118th Congress, and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator William Cassidy, MD (R-LA), are planning to introduce the legislation in the Senate.

Quality Improvement

Stay on the Forefront of Efficiency and Quality

Consider these new strategies

BY MICHAEL RIVERS, MD | JUNE-JULY 2021

During the last 27 years, as an ophthalmic surgeon, I also was part owner of an ASC in Washington, DC. While I was able to transition successfully, I wish I had had many of the tools and features available today that would have made my life easier and my business more profitable.

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Technology

The Future of ASCs

Advancing health equity through technology

BY GREGORY HORNER, MD | APRIL 2024

“Health equity” is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Throughout my years as a surgeon and a national manager of surgery centers, I witnessed a transformation in the American healthcare landscape. Driven by the ASC industry, this transformation led and inspired improvements in efficiency and enhanced healthcare quality.

Infection Prevention

Building Sterile Processing Organizational Capacity

How to support surgical growth in your ASC

BY JOHN KIMSEY AND DAWN PFEIFFER, RN, CASC, CAIP | MAY 2025

In the April issue of ASC Focus, we asked whether an ASC’s support structures can handle the workloads, procedure acuity, regulatory requirements and future growth expectations as it expands to add specialties. We explored the specific role sterile processing plays in supporting the ASC surgical support structure and proposed two questions every ASC should ask of its sterile processing department (SPD).

Cybersecurity

Preparing for and Responding to a Data Breach

Have a written plan, implement it in a timely manner and communicate with your patients

BY NELSON GOMES | OCTOBER 2020

ASCs are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Surgery centers collect and store vast amounts of sensitive personal information. This is highly valued as it can be used for identity theft, blackmail and extortion.

Finances

Two Healthcare Trends Drive ASC Partnerships

Surgery centers use specialized revenue cycle expertise to leverage value-based and consumer-driven care

BY TIM FUCHS AND JESSICA THURSTON | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024

Reflecting on this year’s healthcare trends and looking ahead to 2025, we have seen the number of ASC partnerships with health systems continue to rise steadily. Health systems are eager to contain costs, improve efficiency and prioritize patient care through ASC alliances.

Billing

Is Your Billing Team Performing Optimally?

Take a deep dive into your processes to decide

BY CARYL SERBIN, RN | MAY 2021

Your ASC is well-positioned in the community. It has a good reputation, as do your providers. Your caseload is steady or perhaps growing. You have a happy, busy staff.

Regulatory Review

Prior Authorization Policies Gain Steam

ASCs in 10 states are now part of a demonstration project for certain services

BY ALEX TAIRA | JANUARY 2026

Surgery centers in 10 states will be part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) five-year prior authorization demonstration for certain services beginning with a phased implementation in January 2026.

Advocacy Spotlight

ASCA’s Advocacy Agenda for 2026

The association will continue to lobby for fair legislation and regulations for the ASC community

BY DAVID OPONG–WADEE | JANUARY 2026

As the Trump administration enters its second year in office, health policies keep shifting. ASCA has a two-pronged advocacy strategy this new year: defend its members from legislative and regulatory threats and advance legislation that strengthens the ASC model.

Member Profile

Melissa Rice

JANUARY 2026

Melissa Rice discusses the hot-button issues for ASCs in 2026.

Industry Insight

William A. Miller

APRIL 2022

William A. Miller, partner at Higgs, Fletcher, & Mack LLP in San Diego, California, discusses the most important legal issues for ASCs this year.

ASCA News

Renew Your ASCA Membership for 2026

JANUARY 2026

Thank you for being an ASCA member in 2025. If you have not already done so, renew your membership for this year to maintain access to the many benefits membership provides, as well as gain access to an exciting new benefit.

Web Crawl

Join This Month’s Webinar

JANUARY 2026

On Tuesday, January 6, at 1:00 pm ET, join the first webinar in ASCA’s 2026 series, Medication Management & Drug Diversion Prevention in Your ASC.