Hurricane Helene flooded a factory that produced 60% of the intravenous (IV) solutions used in the United States, causing a dramatic shortage. The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is now calling on the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare a shortage of sterile IV solutions to allow waivers to permit certain flexibilities not otherwise available to health care providers. Baxter International, the company that operates the Marion, North Carolina-based … [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...]