Repeal of CON laws for ASCs expands healthcare access, number of facilities in rural areas
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 By examining six states that repealed ASC-specific CON laws between 1991 and 2019,…
Nearly 1 in 3 US rural hospitals at risk of closure
Editor's Note More than 700 rural hospitals, representing 31% of all rural hospitals in the country, are at risk of closure, according to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform. Chief Healthcare Executive reported the news August 8. According to the article, 16% of all rural…
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…
"Tweener" hospitals eye financial relief after Supreme Court ruling
Editor's Note The Supreme Court’s recent “Chevron” ruling could offer additional financial security to hundreds of so-called "tweener" rural hospitals—those too large to be considered critical access hospitals but too small to be rural referral centers. Modern Healthcare reported the news July 29. According to the article, critical access hospitals,…
Physician survey illuminates negative impact of prior authorization
Editor's Note The American Medical Association (AMA) annual, nationwide prior authorization survey reveals that over 90% of physicians believe prior authorization negatively impacts patient clinical outcomes. “More telling,” AMA reported July 17, is the fact that 78% of physicians report that this process “sometimes or often” leads to patients abandoning…
Hospitals, health groups criticize CMS pay proposals
Editor's Note Hospital groups are criticizing CMS' proposed 2.6% pay increase for 2025, deeming it insufficient for nonprofit hospitals with operating margins near or below zero, according to a July 11 article in Becker’s Hospital CFO Report. The American Hospital Association and America's Essential Hospitals argue the rise won't cover…
CMS releases proposed Medicare payment rates for outpatient, ASC services
Editor's Note On July 10, CMS proposed Medicare payment rates for hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) services for 2025. Published annually, the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and ASC Payment System Proposed Rule will have a 60-day comment period, which this year ends September 9 prior to…
Ambulatory endoscopy management strategies keep patients, finances healthy
Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is one of the most common procedures in the US. Performed more than 17.1 million times per year in inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as well as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), GI procedures account for 68% of all endoscopies, according to a May 2022 article in Digestive…
Large amounts of personal data possibly stolen in Change Healthcare cyberattack
Editor's Note Personal information about a “substantial portion of people in America” could be at risk from the February 21 cyberattack on UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare division, The Associated Press reported April 23. Although the company reports no signs of full medical histories or charts were released, notifying all who were…
Getting ready for the OAS CAHPS Survey 2025 requirement
Editor's Note Starting in 2025, Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) will be required to participate in the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey to comply with the ASC Quality Reporting Program, reports the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) and Outpatient Surgery Magazine…
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