Here are 30 healthcare updates from the past month for ASC leaders to note:
Stolen vehicle crashes into Pennsylvania surgery center
A man crashed a stolen pickup truck into Saint Vincent Surgery Center in Erie, Pa. on May 22. The suspect allegedly hit a pedestrian before crashing into the surgery center, according to police.
Trump's proposed budget includes $800B Medicaid cuts
President Donald Trump is proposing a budget that will cut Medicaid by $800 billion. The cuts assume the American Health Care Act comes to fruition.
CBO estimates say AHCA would cause 14M to lose coverage by 2018, 23M by 2026
The Congressional Budget Office's updated estimates of the American Health Care Act predict the bill will cause 14 million people to lose insurance by 2018. By 2023, the CBO estimates 23 million Americans will lose coverage.
TeamHealth names Jennifer Morrison chief compliance officer
Jennifer Morrison is TeamHealth's new chief compliance officer. She was the director of compliance and privacy at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg (Fla.) before joining TeamHealth.
Georgia medical campus with ASC expected to have $185M impact
A new medical campus, featuring an ASC, will offer Georgia residents medical services in Ellenwood. Planners expect the facility to create more than 1,300 positions and have an estimated $185 million economic impact.
Cleveland Clinic, Rendina Healthcare Real Estate break ground on 72k-sq-ft facility including ASC
Cleveland Clinic and Jupiter, Fla.-based Rendina Healthcare Real Estate partnered to construct a $32 million, 72,000-square-foot health center in Coral Springs, Fla. The partners broke ground on the center which'll feature an ASC on May 17.
Aetna considers dumping NJ individual, small group plans following $450M losses
Aetna is weighing its options regarding pulling its individual and small-group health insurance plans in New Jersey. Aetna could possibly withdraw plans after reporting $450 million in losses last year. Aetna does not participate in the state's ACA exchange, but covered more than 68,000 people at the end of 2016.
Legislators likely to reject Trump's proposed $5.8B NIH funding cut
President Donald Trump's proposal to slash National Institutes of Health funding by nearly $5.8 billion may not come to pass if legislators stand in its way. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., House Appropriations subcommittee chairman, said he was concerned about the request and believes the cut could deter scientists from pursuing biomedical research.
Orlando Health's $42M project may have ASC in future plans
Orlando Healthcare is undertaking a big project by building a new $42 million complex in Lake Mary, Fla. Karen Frenier, president of Longwood, Fla.-based South Seminole Hospital, said the health system's future plans may include an ASC and other "health and wellness concepts."
Henry Schein partners with Simplifeye to allow mobile practice management integration
Henry Schein Medical Systems partnered with Simplifeye to incorporate mobile integration into its practice management software MicroMD. Simplifeye's software, also named Simplifeye, allows physicians to view real-time patient information on the Apple Watch and the Apple iPhone.
NC hospital executives speak out after CON repeal bill passes state Senate
The North Carolina Senate passed a budget proposal including an amendment to repeal the state's certificate-of-need laws, drawing criticism from hospital groups. Jeffrey Sackrison, president of Windsor, N.C.-based Vidant Bertie Hospital and Edenton, N.C.-based Vidant Chowan Hospital, said repealing the legislation will not lower costs, which proponents are claiming.
Laser Spine Institute Cleveland ASC welcomes new spine surgeon
Brad M. Picha, MD, joined Laser Spine Institute's Cleveland ASC. Dr. Picha is an Ohio native who completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
UnitedHealth to shut down Harken Health
UnitedHealth Group is shutting down its Harken Health subsidiary. Harken Health lost $63.7 million in 2016. UnitedHealth Group invested $160 million into the company.
Wisconsin surgery center closes after threat
Franklin, Wis.-based Aurora Surgical Center closed on May 17 after a woman called the facility threatening harm. The police are investigating the case, but said they had a suspect in mind. The center reopened on May 17.
Physician-owned hospital bill introduced in Senate
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., introduced legislation in the Senate to improve access to physician-led hospitals. The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017 would repeal the moratorium on physician-owned hospitals that was enacted in 2010 as part of the ACA.
ASCA board elects Lisa Austin, Jennifer Butterfield as new members
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association elected two new board members — Lisa Austin, RN, and Jennifer Butterfield, RN, BSN. Ms. Austin is the vice president of facility development for Evergreen, Colo.-based Pinnacle III. Ms. Butterfield is the CEO and administrator for, National Surgical Healthcare—Lakes Surgery Center in Detroit They were both elected to three-year terms. ASCA re-elected four additional members.
New CMS rule wants to increase ACA exchange participation
CMS issued a final rule aimed at stabilizing the individual and small group insurance markets for the 2018 coverage year. The rule changes several standards. CMS will shorten the open enrollment period and will fully enforce the pre-enrollment verification. The agency will allow insurers to collect payments from beneficiaries with outstanding balances.
Anthem terminates merger with Cigna — Refuses to pay breakup fee
Anthem terminated its potential merger with Cigna on May 12 following a May 11 ruling by the Delaware Court of Chancery denying Anthem's preliminary injunction request. In the release, Anthem alleges Cigna "failed to perform and comply in all material respects with its contractual obligations." Citing that, Anthem is refusing to pay the merger termination fee.
93% of RNs satisfied with career
A new Medscape report found although registered nurses are happy with their career choice, many suffer from fatigue. Ninety-three percent said they were satisfied with their career choice. Ninety-eight reported their job is physically and mentally demanding. At the day's end, 93 percent said they feel mentally and/or physically tired.
Willmar Medical Services breaks ground on new ASC in Minnesota
Willmar (Minn.) Medical Services broke ground on a new outpatient surgery center. A joint venture between Willmar-based Rice Memorial Hospital and Willmar-based Affiliated Community Medical Centers, Willmar Medical Services officially began work on the new $11 million ASC.
Senate approves Dr. Scott Gottlieb as FDA commissioner by 15 votes
The Senate confirmed Scott Gottlieb, MD, as the FDA commissioner in a 57 to 42 vote on May 9. In April, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions confirmed Dr. Gottlieb's nomination, mostly along party lines.
Surgery Partners Q1 revenues total $286.2M; 7.2% jump
Surgery Partners fared well in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. Revenues totaled $286.2 million, up 7.2 percent from first quarter fiscal year 2016.
40 patients develop septic arthritis after NJ clinic fails to abide by standard hygiene practices
State reports confirmed 40 patients developed knee septic arthritis after receiving care at Wall Township, N.J.-based Osteo Relief Institute Jersey Shore. One clinic physician told state health department investigators she did not wash her hands between treating patients.
European physicians visit Surgery Center of Oklahoma to observe business practices
Oklahoma City-based Surgery Center of Oklahoma hosted physicians from European countries to observe the center's business practices. The surgery center guarantees its procedures' costs and only accepts cash for payment.
Renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Marvin Schuster dies from heart disease
Gastroenterologist Marvin M. Schuster, MD, 87, died on May 12 after a battle with heart disease. Dr. Schuster founded the Marvin M. Schuster Center for Digestive and Motility disorders at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
Envision Physician Services acquires Georgia emergency medicine group
Envision Healthcare's physician services division acquired Lawrenceville, Ga.-based emergency medicine group practice Gwinnett Emergency Specialists. The practice's more than 40 physicians and 30 advanced practice practitioners offer services to residents at Gwinnett Medical Center Lawrenceville and Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth (Ga.).
Low nursing levels leads to higher patient mortality
Hospitals with low nursing staffing levels may have higher patient mortality risk, according to a Sweden-based Karolinska Institutet thesis. Swedish researchers had nurses answer a series of questions about the care they did not provide due to a lack of time. The responses showed a correlation between fewer nurses, more missed care and an increase in patient mortality.
Association of Independent Doctors says Green Mountain Surgery Center opposition 'anticompetitive'
The Association of Independent Doctors, a national group that works with the Federal Trade Commission to stop hospital mergers, says opposition to the Green Mountain (Vt.) Surgery Center is anticompetitive.
The Joint Commission deletes 135 performance elements for ambulatory, office-based surgery programs
The Joint Commission removed 85 elements of performance from its Ambulatory Health Care accreditation program and 50 elements of performance from its Office-Based Surgery programs.
How limiting pharmaceutical rep sales visits influences physician prescribing
Academic medical centers implemented policies limiting pharmaceutical representative sales visits to physicians to assess whether these visits impact physician prescribing patterns, according to a study published in The JAMA Network.