The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified its position on survey and credentialing activities during the government shutdown. In a Tuesday memo, the agency effectively limited survey work during the federal shutdown to essential health and safety functions. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), only complaint investigations classified as immediate jeopardy (IJ)and those involving actual harm may proceed, along with revisits approved by exception and … [Read more...]
Streamlining Credentialing to Boost ASC Revenue, Reputation and Patient Care
Credentialing quality can significantly impact ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) during the onboarding process of new physicians. When not managed properly, it can lead to delays in provider start dates, which result in lost revenue and patient dissatisfaction. Credentialing involves more than just verifying licensure; it also impacts reputation, risk management and recruitment. During a recent ASC News webinar, experts from MedTrainer and Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies discussed how … [Read more...]
From Audits to Accreditation: Why Compliance Culture Matters for ASCs
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are facing unprecedented scrutiny as payers lean on artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to identify billing anomalies. But compliance doesn’t need to be overcomplicated, industry experts advise. “We’re just seeing an increased focus on program integrity,” health care attorney Robert Saltaformaggio said on the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast. Both federal and commercial payers are driving this surge, using AI tools to flag potential … [Read more...]
As the Surgical Shift Accelerates, ASCs Must Sharpen Their Patient-Selection Strategies
As federal regulators push to eliminate the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) stand to benefit from a wider range of eligible procedures. But to fully capitalize on the change, ASC operators may need to refine their patient-selection process. Being able to efficiently determine whether a patient is right for a procedure in an ASC will become increasingly critical. This is something many ASC leaders are already thinking about. During Tenet Healthcare’s … [Read more...]
How ASCs Can Use Tech to Streamline Compliance, Cut Risk
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are under increasing pressure to meet hospital-level expectations with fewer resources. That is a reality that Katie Pierson, regulatory specialist at Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies, knows all too well. “Regulators, patients and payers want documentation, credentialing, infection control, emergency preparedness – the list goes on,” Pierson recently said. “But you’re expected to deliver all of that with leaner teams.” During a July 15 webinar hosted by … [Read more...]