Here are seven things for ASC leaders to note from the past week.
SCA partners with The Surgery Center at Doral
Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates entered into a partnership with The Surgery Center at Doral (Fla.). The Surgery Center at Doral includes 10 physicians focused on orthopedics, podiatry, spine, pain management and general surgery.
ASCA applauds President Obama signing 21st Century Cures Act
President Barack Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act, with the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association applauding the decision to pass the law that features two provisions impacting ASCs. Under the first provision, Section 4012, HHS will create a website allowing Medicare beneficiaries to compare their out-of-pocket costs and expenses for different procedures in ASCs and hospital outpatient departments. Section 16003, the second provision, provides protection for those physicians practicing in ASCs from possible penalties linked to the Medicare meaningful use program.
Global ASC market to grow at 4.4% CAGR to 2020
A Technavio report found a rise in minimally invasive surgery cases is driving the ASC market. The global ASC market is expected to grow at a 4.36 percent compound annual growth rate through 2020.
Frontier Healthcare opens new multispecialty ASC in the Bronx
New York-based Frontier Healthcare partnered with ASMC physician group to open a new ASC in New York City. The multispecialty ASC opened on Dec. 5, 2016, with specialties including gastroenterology, orthopedics and pain management.
VA final rule allows APRNs to practice without clinical supervision; excludes CRNAs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued a final rule that grants three types of advanced practice registered nurses full practice authority. The rule applies to certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse-midwives. However, the VA did not include certified registered nurse anesthetists in this list.
Physicians Endoscopy acquires majority ownership in ACCESS Surgery Center
Jamison, Pa.-based Physicians Endoscopy is joint venturing with ACCESS Surgery Center physicians to acquire a majority stake in the ASC in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Through the partnership, ACCESS Surgery Center is PE's 42nd ASC and fifth partnership in New Jersey.
Envision Healthcare's physician services division acquires Desert Mountain Consultants in Anesthesia
Greenwood, Colo.-based Envision Healthcare's physician services division acquired Phoenix-based Desert Mountain Consultants in Anesthesia. Desert Mountain Consultants in Anesthesia is comprised of 14 physicians.