ChristianaCare, Atlas Healthcare form joint venture to expand ASC network
Editor's Note ChristianaCare, a health system in Delaware, is partnering with Atlas Healthcare Partners to develop a new network of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Delaware and the mid-Atlantic region, Hospital Management August 14 reports. The partnership will be overseen by a joint board with representatives from both ChristianaCare and…
Vertical integration favors HOPDs over ASCs
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…
New report predicts surge in ASC volume over next decade
Editor's Note New findings from health consultant Sg2’s 2024 Impact of Change report projects a 21% increase in ambulatory surgery center (ASC) volume, to reach 44 million by 2034, ASC Focus July 8 reports. An aging population, better diagnostics, and epidemiological factors are driving this demand, Tori Richie, senior consulting…
Changes in ASC ownership: A look at the influencing factors
Editor's Note As aging ambulatory surgery center (ASC) physician-owners retire, many ASCs are struggling with succession plans, Outpatient Surgery Magazine May 1 reports. Per the article, younger surgeons often lack the capital to establish freestanding ASCs, and with tight margins in the ASC market, a capital infusion is often needed.…
Rural hospitals contend with challenging opportunities
Rural hospitals in the US have been facing a prolonged, multifaceted crisis. The literature presents several reasons for why healthcare facilities in rural areas struggle, including shrinking budgets, rising chronic illness and public health issues like addiction and obesity, poor telehealth and broadband access, aging populations, deteriorating mental health, and…
Hospital margins, ED visits up, length of stay down in April, Kaufman report reveals
Editor's Note The median hospital margin of 3.8% for April is an improvement over the previous month and year-over-year, according to the latest National Hospital Flash Report from Kaufman Hall. Compiled by Kaufman and Syntellis Performance Solutions (now part of Strata), the monthly report analyzes 3 years’ worth of both…
RAND study reveals private payers pay 250% more than Medicare for healthcare services
Editor's Note A recent analysis by the RAND Corporation, a research and analysis nonprofit, revealed a disparity between hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) prices paid by employers and private payers compared to Medicare prices, Revcycle Intelligence May 15 reports. The study, covering data from 2020 to 2022, showed private…
State lawmakers target rising healthcare costs via legislation on hospital facility fees
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…
Hospitals curtail outpatient care, ramp up staffing in advance of solar eclipse
Editor's Note Monday’s solar eclipse has prompted hospitals in affected areas to implement precautionary measures in advance of an expected influx of visitors as well as potential communication and other difficulties, Becker’s Hospital Review reported April 2. Areas in the path of totality, which stretches from Central Texas to Northeastern…
Shift to outpatient, emergency services keeps rural hospitals afloat
Editor's Note More CEOs are considering rural emergency hospital (REH) designation, according to a February 12 article in Becker’s Hospital CFO Report. In January 2023, REH was established as a new Medicare provider type to enable struggling rural hospitals to continue operating with outpatient and emergency services only, instead of…
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