The anesthesiologist shortage will likely not end anytime soon. Yet for ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators, there are fixes that can help keep their centers running smoothly, such as collaborating with anesthesia providers, balancing payer mixes and making sure operating rooms are functioning efficiently. “In the past, anesthesia, surgeons and surgery centers often had a contentious relationship,” Alfonso del Granado, administrator of Covenant High Plains Surgery Centers in Lubbock, … [Read more...]
‘We’re Really Going to Get on the Ball Very Early in the Year’: ASC Leaders Eager to Engage Trump Administration on CMS Rulemaking
After a somewhat disappointing rulemaking cycle for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) this year, 2025’s discussions with federal regulators will become all the more important. And a return to a Trump administration means ASC stakeholders will need to start those conversations sooner rather than later. “We're really going to get on the ball very early in the year in 2025,” Kara Newbury, chief advocacy officer for Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), said during a recent podcast … [Read more...]
[Updated] CMS Finalizes 2.9% Medicare Payment Update for ASCs in 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized 2025 Medicare payment rates and quality reporting program updates for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). ASC payment rates will increase 2.9% in CY 2025 for centers meeting relevant quality reporting requirements, according to a final rule that CMS issued Friday. The rule received backlash from industry stakeholders. “This final rule is a step sideways in a time when millions of Medicare beneficiaries need CMS to advance … [Read more...]
New Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Stabilize Physician Medicare Rates, Gains ASCA Backing
Federal legislation that seeks to protect the financial viability of physician practices by addressing long-standing Medicare reimbursement challenges has been introduced, and has the backing of ambulatory surgery center advocates. The proposed legislation comes as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2.93% cut in physician Medicare reimbursement rates is set to take effect in January 2025. “This amounts to a finalized CY 2025 PFS conversion factor of $32.35, a … [Read more...]
Citing Affordability and Patient Satisfaction, ASC Stakeholders Keep Pushing for CMS Cardiovascular Codes
There is a growing movement in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry to include more cardiovascular codes in the Covered Procedures List (CPL). ASCs have been positioned to transform cardiovascular care in the U.S. since the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) to its covered procedure list in 2020. What’s more, cardiovascular procedures in ASCs are becoming more and more common due to technological advancements, … [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...]
ASC Providers Slam CMS Inaction on Cardiology Codes, Confusing COVID Vaccine Reporting
In its 2025 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) floated a 2.6% increase to surgery center payments and adjustments to select quality-reporting measures. One thing CMS didn’t call for: key additions to the ASC Covered Procedures list for 2025. “It is disheartening that CMS established a new, supposedly more transparent process for submitting procedure codes that could be added to the ASC Covered Procedures … [Read more...]
ASCA CEO Bill Prentice: Proposed Changes to ASC Covered Procedures List Are ‘Disheartening’
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments last week. The headliner from CMS was its proposed 2.6% effective payment update for next year, a figure based on a 3% inflation update plus a 0.4% productivity reduction. As it pertains to that update, CMS listened to industry feedback and mirrored proposed payment changes for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments … [Read more...]
From Cutting Facility Fees to Banning Noncompetes: The 2024 Regulatory, Legislative Outlook for ASCs
For ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators, staying abreast of the regulatory and legislative changes that impact daily business and patient care is crucial. And from workforce-related final rules, certificate of need (CON) developments, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changes and beyond, there has been no shortage of policy developments over the past several months. The second half of 2024 is likely to present further shifts as well, ASC industry insiders … [Read more...]
CMS Releases Top ASC Citations, Raising Concerns About Infection Control
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the most frequently cited areas for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in 2023. The most cited issue was "Sanitary Environment," cited 507 times. Following closely was "Infection Control Program," cited 372 times. The data, obtained by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), was based on 3,023 ASC surveys from last year. The numbers show that infection control remains a predominant concern for operators, with … [Read more...]