The site-neutrality movement has rapidly become one of the most talked-about issues in health care. But what does it mean for ambulatory surgery center operators? At its core, site neutrality is about leveling the playing field between different outpatient settings by eliminating the extra facility fees that hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) often receive, Rachel Carey, counsel at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, told Ambulatory Surgery Center News. “It's a movement to … [Read more...]
As ASCs Grapple with Anesthesiologist Shortage, Regulators Target CRNA Scope of Practice
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a letter in September clarifying the role of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in the state’s health care system. The letter came following surveys conducted at Stanislaus Surgical Hospital and Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California, where CRNAs were found practicing independently without appropriate physician supervision. These surveys, conducted by state and federal surveyors, led to “Immediate Jeopardy” … [Read more...]