In 2022, Medicare spending for beneficiaries treated in private physician practices backed by private equity was, on average, 9.8% lower compared to those treated in hospital-affiliated practices. That’s according to a recent study conducted by Avalere, commissioned by the American Independent Medical Practice Association (AIMPA). The study revealed significant cost savings and reduced health care utilization among Medicare beneficiaries treated by private equity-affiliated physician … [Read more...]
ASCA Urges CMS for Updated Payment Rates, Calls for Covered Procedures List Expansion
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) recently submitted comments calling for significant changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed 2025 payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). In a letter to CMS, ASCA said that CMS should consider updating payment rates, expanding the ASC Covered Procedures List (CPL) and changing new quality reporting measures. Under the proposed rule, ASCs would receive an effective update of 2.6%, … [Read more...]
Senior-Focused Primary Care Reduces Health Disparities, Can Help Direct Patients to ASCs
Better access to primary care services for seniors can help address racial and socio-economic disparities. That’s according to a recently published study from Humana Healthcare Research and Harvard University. For ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators, the research suggests that they have their own role to play in care models aimed toward preventative care for seniors, too. "We're seeking to ensure that patients see specialists, and what we often find is that these specialist groups … [Read more...]
Collins Vision Expands with Acquisition of Eye Care and Surgery Center
Ophthalmology practice Collins Vision has expanded its footprint in Southwest Florida by acquiring the Eye Care and Surgery Center of Southwest Florida in Punta Gorda. This move allows the practice to broaden its reach into Charlotte County, enhancing access to personalized eye care for the growing community, executives said in a press release. The acquisition, spearheaded by Collins Vision founder and Medical Director Dr. Michael J. Collins, marks a strategic expansion into a region … [Read more...]
ASCs Face 2% Medicare Penalty for Non-Compliance with OAS CAHPS Survey Rollout in 2025
Same-day surgery centers across the country will soon be required to administer the OAS CAHPS survey, a comprehensive tool developed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to assess patient satisfaction following outpatient surgeries. The survey asks 34 questions covering various aspects of patient experience, including communication with medical staff, facility cleanliness, preparation for discharge and recovery, and overall satisfaction with the care received. It … [Read more...]
CON Laws Present Double-Edged Sword for ASC Operators Balancing Market Control, Expansion
For operators looking to open up a new ambulatory surgery center (ASC), it takes more than just funding, a strategic plan, or even a strong clinical team. In many markets, regulatory stars need to align as well. A certificate of need (CON), for instance, is a regulatory document required in some states before health care facilities, including ASCs, can be constructed, expanded, or significantly altered. For ASC operators, the CON process presents both opportunities and challenges. On one … [Read more...]
PRISM Vision Group Expands in the DMV Market with Friendship Ambulatory Surgery Center Partnership
PRISM Vision Group (PVG), a New Jersey-based eye care services organization, has announced its latest partnership with Friendship Ambulatory Surgery Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The collaboration marks PVG’s seventh ambulatory surgery center (ASC) as the company continues to grow in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area. The Friendship Ambulatory Surgery Center, a 7,000-square-foot facility with four operating rooms, specializes in multi-specialty ophthalmic … [Read more...]
Pipeline: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Plans Multispecialty ASC; UCSF Health Adds New Comprehensive Care Facility in Mission Bay
Atrium Health’s latest ASC development Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is planning to expand its presence in the Innovation Quarter in in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a new multispecialty ambulatory surgery center (ASC), pending approval from state health regulators. According to reporting in the Winston-Salem Journal, the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation recently posted Baptist's certificate-of-need (CON) application, which outlines plans to relocate two operating rooms … [Read more...]
Tenet CEO: ASC Arm Thriving Amid ‘Transformative Year’
For Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC), 2024 has been a “transformative year.” In part, that transformation comes from Tenet making progress on its deleveraging goals by divesting hospital assets, a strategy that will, in turn, free the company up to execute on M&A opportunities and more moving forward. And at the same time, Tenet’s ambulatory surgery center (ASC) business – United Surgical Partners International (USPI) – continues to thrive, propelled by higher-acuity procedures shifting into … [Read more...]
New Survey Offers Inside Look at ASC Quality-Reporting Program, Challenges for Operators
The vast majority of ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators participate in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, a new industry survey suggests. The ASCQR Program requires ASCs to report specific quality measures to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) looked at participation in a recent survey, publishing results on Aug. 30. The survey collected 321 responses from surgery centers across … [Read more...]