The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee in Connecticut is examining legislation to repeal a 6 percent tax on ambulatory surgery centers in the state.
The statewide tax on ASCs went into effect on Oct. 1, 2015. The Connecticut Citizens for Affordable Health Care has been fighting against the tax since implementation and report some of the 47 ASCs in the state would be forced to close because of the tax, and patients may see higher deductibles, co-payments and insurance as a result.
Here are five things to know about the legislation:
1. If ASCs close because of the tax, patients will seek care at the available hospitals, which are higher-cost options — and in some cases lower quality — than the inpatient setting.
2. Around 90 percent of ASC patients report high satisfaction rates with their experience.
3. Eighty-one percent of taxpayers polled in October 2015 disapproved of the tax.
4. The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee examination of repeal legislation could be the next step toward repeal.
"This bill is an opportunity to ensure patients have access to a comprehensive range of safe, clinically-advanced services in the community-based setting," said Cathy Bartell, administrator of Connecticut Surgery Center. "I strongly urge our state lawmakers to advance this legislation in order to protect lower healthcare costs for patients, their families, their employers and state taxpayers."