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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today began accepting requests to participate in the FDA PreCheck pilot program. FDA PreCheck is designed to strengthen the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain by increasing regulatory predictability, facilitating the construction of manufacturing sites in the U.S., and streamlining aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing facility assessments in advance of a specific product application.
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FDA News Release (02/01/26)
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ASCA’s latest virtual course, Key Updates to ASC Accrediting Organizations’ Standards, will be available on demand starting next Monday, February 9. The course will offer a comprehensive overview of each of the ASC accrediting organizations’ standards, with an emphasis on recent changes and new requirements. Register now to ensure you have access as soon as the sessions are available. This course—along with ASCA’s entire suite of virtual education—is included in 2026 ASCA membership and also available for purchase by nonmembers. Join ASCA or renew your membership for 2026 to access this course as part of your membership! |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted in January to address inadequate payment for Medicare physician services under current law, once again underscoring a longstanding policy failure that is widely recognized but remains unresolved. MedPAC voted to recommend an additional 0.5% update on top of the updates specified in current law—0.25% and 0.75%—and will forward that recommendation to Congress.
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American Medical Association (01/27/26) Tanya Albert Henry
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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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In the latest episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice is joined by Chris Schriever, cofounder and chief executive officer of ASC Data, an ASCA affinity partner. ASC Data specializes in providing actionable statistics on the ASC market, helping businesses identify future opportunities. During this brief, informative discussion, Schriever talks about the sources he relies on for compiling his proprietary reports on thousands of ASCs, and how ASC Data is filling the need for detailed and reliable data about ASCs all across the country. |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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Physicians described how restrictive noncompete agreements have hurt their careers and their patients during an online workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this week. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said the agency plans to address anticompetitive noncompete agreements.
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MedPage Today (01/29/26) Shannon Firth
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Elevate your clinical, operational and anesthesia knowledge at the ASCA + SAMBA Conference & Expo, taking place May 13–16 in Washington, DC. For the first time, ASCA’s annual conference will feature SAMBA (Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia)—creating a more interdisciplinary learning environment designed for the entire ASC community. From clinical insights to operational strategy, you’ll leave with tools you can put to work immediately. Check out the schedule and register today! |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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Washington lawmakers are reintroducing a bill that would protect insurance coverage on anesthesia services. House Bill 1812, sponsored by Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, would prohibit health carriers from denying coverage or capping reimbursement based on the duration of anesthesia used during a procedure.
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Columbia Basin Herald (01/29/26) Elizah Lourdes Rendorio
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ASCA members are invited to apply for the ASCA Foundation’s Medical Mission Scholarship Program, which provides funding for One World Surgery’s weeklong medical missions. Its Dominican Republic facility has numerous upcoming high-need missions, including the weeks of February 7–14, March 7–14, April 18–25, May 9–16, June 6–13 and July 18–25. |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF) today announced they are aligning Joint Commission’s Sentinel Events (SE) List and NQF’s recently updated Serious Reportable Events List, streamlining safety event reporting and eliminating the need to maintain separate safety measurement frameworks. The intent is to reduce confusion and burden, while placing greater focus on improving patient safety.
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Joint Commission Press Release (01/26/26)
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The application period for the March Certified Ambulatory Infection Preventionist® (CAIP) exam was extended through this Friday, February 6, due to severe weather conditions impacting ASCs across the country. CAIP is the first credential designed specifically for infection preventionists in the ASC community. This certification distinguishes those with a comprehensive understanding of the skills and knowledge that the role of an ASC infection preventionist requires. Learn more and apply today. |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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This quality-improvement initiative achieved high patient uptake of reusable items and resulted in substantial reductions in plastic use, waste, and associated carbon emissions. Transitioning to reusable bags for patient belongings and reusable water bottles is an environmentally friendly initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of an [operating room].
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Canadian Journal of Surgery (01/06/26) Sukham K. Brar; Celia Dann; Mike Apostol; et al.
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Get to know ASCA’s Board of Directors through the ASC Focus series of Q&A interviews. Read this Digital Debut to learn more about Tyler Marks, MD, ASCA Board member and physician at Specialty Orthopedic Group in Tupelo, Mississippi. |
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ASCA Content (02/03/26)
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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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