Here are seven updates for ASC leaders to note:
Obama focuses on healthcare during farewell speech
During his goodbye speech on Jan. 10, 2017, President Barack Obama spoke about various healthcare improvements such as the nation's diminishing uninsured rate.
Presence Health to pay $475k settlement following surgery center breach
Presence filed a breach notification report on Jan. 31, 2014, to OCR after the health system noted operating room schedules were missing from Joliet, Ill.-based Presence St. Joseph Medical Center's Presence Surgery Center. State law requires a healthcare facility to report to OCR within 60 days of uncovering the breach. Following OCR's investigation into Presence Health, OCR found Presence violated the law by failing to meet this time frame.
Physician burnout up 25%+ in 4 years
In the "Medscape Lifestyle Report 2017: Race and Ethnicity, Bias and Burnout," Medscape found physician burnout totaled 51 percent this year, with reported cases increasing by more than 25 percent over the last four years. Emergency medicine physicians reported the highest burnout rate amongst practicing physicians at 59 percent, with obstetrics and gynecology providers trailing closely behind at 56 percent.
Cigna anticipates 500k new customers in 2017
After adding 330,000 customers in 2016, Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna's CEO David Cordani aims to add 500,000 in 2017. In its SEC filings, Cigna said it spent $145 million on merger-related transaction costs in 2016. It spent $35 million in 2015.
Coding changes that could affect your anesthesia practice in 2017
The American Medical Association's updated CPT Standard Codebook could have some serious ramifications on anesthesia practices
Here are the four codes being replaced in 2017.
62310 for cervical and thoracic single shot injection
62311 for lumbar single shot injection
62318 for cervical or thoracic epidural catheter
62310 for lumbar epidural catheter
For more on the coding changes, click here.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell defends ACA as time as HHS secretary comes to a close
During a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell maintained her support of the ACA and questioned the validity of Republicans' replacement plan. Ms. Burwell said promises concerning a replacement plan are unrealistic. She said, "As for silver bullets, they don't exist. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is."
Teachers Advisors buys 5.5k AmSurg shares
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, Teachers Advisors bought 5,487 shares of Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg. On Jan. 10, 2017, AmSurg shares rallied 0.19 percent, reaching $63.41.