Editor's Note This session on converting hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), presented at the recently concluded OR Manager Conference, saw Joan Dentler, MBA, founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, share practical insights for healthcare leaders contemplating this transition. Dentler began by highlighting the history of ASCs, which…

Read More

Editor's Note “There's nothing worse than putting a contract together, only for the anesthesia providers to say, ‘Oh, no, we're not going to do that,” Mindy Gingery, MSN, CRNA, ARNP, president of Heartland Anesthesia & Consulting, said, opening this morning session on anesthesia contract best practices for ambulatory surgery centers…

Read More

Editor's Note On October 14, Anesthesiology News published a monograph featuring clinical perspectives on how “those working in the trenches of postsurgical pain management” are preparing for the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, which outlines new, separate Medicare reimbursement for certain non-opioid analgesics in outpatient and ambulatory…

Read More

Editor's Note A Medicare policy introduced in 2020, which requires prior authorization for certain procedures done at hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), has not significantly reduced the volume of surgical procedures being done at these facilities, reports a study by Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, published on October 9. The policy,…

Read More

Editor's Note This fall 2024 study published by the CATO Institute found that repealing Certificate-of-Need (CON) laws for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) would significantly increase the number of ASCs, improving patient access to affordable and high-quality care. By examining six states that repealed ASC-specific CON laws between 1991 and 2019,…

Read More

Editor's Note A growing trend toward vertical integration in US healthcare is leading to significant changes in how care is delivered and billed, according to a new study by Brown University researchers published on September 16. Vertical integration refers to the consolidation of physician-owned practices into larger health systems, a…

Read More

Editor's Note This new multicenter study published by the Heart Rhythm Society on August 5 found that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) offer a safe and effective setting for performing various cardiac electrophysiology procedures, including catheter ablation (CA). The research, which retrospectively analyzed 4,037 procedures, highlights the viability of ASCs as…

Read More

Editor's Note Medicare and patient out-of-pocket costs are rising as vertical integration results in more procedures moving to hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) than to ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), Becker’s ASC Review reported on August 8. The article summarizes a study published July 25 in Science Direct. Described as "physician vertical…

Read More

Healthcare continues to evolve at a fast pace with advancements in technology and treatment, which is a big reason why finding the right medical care is a daunting task. Nowadays, patients seeking healthcare services are facing several choices, each promising the best care possible. How accurate is that promise? Determining…

Read More

Editor's Note An increasing trend in healthcare billing has seen patients facing unexpected "hospital facility fees," even for routine services at clinics not physically connected to a hospital, Stateline April 25 reports. These fees, which can range significantly, are tacked on by hospitals to cover operational costs and have been…

Read More